Medelci: “It is not too late to use peaceful means in Mali”
FM Mourad Medelci
It is not too late to seize the opportunities that are offered by peaceful means, with respect to the settlement of the crisis in Mali, Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci said.
“We have to combat terrorist organizations in the region rigorously and relentlessly”, he adde.
The head of the Algerian diplomacy announced, in a speech marking the 50th anniversary of Algeria’s association to the United Nations, that “It is not too late to seize the opportunities that are offered by peaceful means to restore peace, security and the territorial integrity of Mali”, confirming Algeria’s firm position to peaceful solutions to the crisis in northern Mali.
Medelci called for the need to combat terrorist groups that are affiliated with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the Movement for the Tawhid and Jihad in West Africa, adding that this fight must be accompanied by re-launching development projects in the north of Mali.
In a related context, experts said that the military intervention in northern Mali against terrorist groups that control the area, is likely to be necessary but not sufficient certainly, to restore security to the country and the Sahel region.
GAO governor Sado Diallo, who is a refugee in Bamako, and who criticized launching negotiations in Burkina Faso with Ansareddine, one of the armed groups and Tuareg rebellion National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, said “The Economic Community of West Africa should intervene without seeking to negotiate”,adding “In the north, is not about rebellion but terrorism where people suffer rape and violence.”