Malian Foreign Affaires minister Mokhtar Ouane is expected to come to Algeria next week to convey an official message from Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on northern Sahel and asking for help. Northern Mali has witnessed fresh disturbance between Touareg rebels and Malian army.The visit of the Mali’s head of diplomacy to Algeria comes within an attempt from Bamako to improve its relations with Algeria after it has withdrawn from mediation since last April between the conflicting Mali army and Touareg rebels. It was an act of protest on reports of press close the Malian system which criticized Algeria for interference in Mali’s affairs.

The visit of Mokhtar Ouane to Algeria comes at the same time with the presence of Touareg tribes’ notables in Libya. They traveled to Mali on Thursday on a reconciliation and pacification mission following a violence wave escalation that Malian government said Ibrahim Bahanga’s group was behind it. The latter denied his involvement in the recent events affirming his attachment to the truce agreement sponsored by Algeria.

The Malian army killed 11 elements from Touareg rebels, two weeks ago after an army center had been attacked taking a Malian solder’s life.     

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source from the Malian Foreign Affairs Ministry said the Libyan notables will move across the entire Malian territory to calm down the situation.

The same source denied that they were new negotiations. “Algeria agreement remains valid”.

Algeria sponsored the signature of truce agreement and peace return between the Malian government and Touareg rebels in July 2007.

It is expected that the Malian Foreign Affairs Minister would convey a message from his president to Algeria for its continuous sponsorship of peace and truce agreement.

He also expected to explain the Libyan notables’ task in Mali and that it doesn’t embody any mediation between the conflicting parties; thing which can raise Algeria’ sensitivity.