Separatists of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) reject the government’s initiative for a National Charter for Peace, ruling out any dialogue with the transitional authorities, while the Malian army announces the seizure of an arsenal intended for it.
The FLA on Thursday turned down the peace charter submitted to junta leader Assimi Goïta, dismissing in a statement any form of dialogue with the Malian authorities.
In a statement released from Kidal, FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said the document, “far from being the product of a genuine peace process,” constitutes a “political delaying tactic” intended to “restore the tarnished image of a regime lacking legitimacy.”
Refusal of dialogue
The independence movement specifies that it is not seeking “any mediation” and is not considering “any form of negotiation with an illegitimate military regime.”
According to the FLA, “neither the hollow formalism of the said document, nor the arrogant arrogance of the statements of the leader of the criminal junta in Bamako, can alter our constant and unwavering commitment to the total reconquest of the territory of Azawad.”
The FLA maintains its position of “making the voice of the people of Azawad heard, defending their rights and restoring their dignity, in complete independence.”
This position contrasts with the reception given to the charter by the transitional authorities.
The PM described the text as a “rendezvous with sovereignty,” while Assimi Goita praised “exemplary and essential work to rebuild national cohesion.”
The charter, composed of 16 titles, 39 chapters, and 106 articles, was presented as a “sovereign alternative” to the Algiers Agreement, which was denounced in January 2024. The document provides mechanisms to resolve community conflicts and reintegrate ex-combatants.
Seizure of arsenal
Meanwhile, the Malian army’s general staff announced Tuesday evening the seizure of an arsenal intended for the FLA, which it has designated a “terrorist organisation.” The intercepted equipment includes 20 pneumatic cannons, 4,000 turbines, 3,280 pairs of combat boots, 4,000 military fatigues, and 1,040 patches bearing the movement’s name.
According to the Malian army, this equipment, “manufactured in Asia and then shipped to a country in the subregion,” was intended to strengthen the group’s logistics. The seizure was conducted thanks to coordination between the intelligence services of the member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
The military command states that this operation “confirms the involvement of foreign entities in supporting terrorist groups.”
These statements come amid tensions with Ukraine, which Bamako accuses of supporting the Malian rebellion following the July 2023 clashes near Tinzaoutene.
These events led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to refer Kyiv to the United Nations. Mali and Niger had severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
Lingering tension
The ALF’s rejection of the charter comes amid a fragile security climate marked by ongoing armed tensions in northern and central Mali.
The text, submitted four months behind schedule, was the result of consultations conducted in all regions, the Bamako district, and with the diaspora.
Judicial investigations are underway regarding the weapons seizure, according to the military headquarters. The text of the charter is to be reviewed by the relevant institutions, with the possibility of a popular referendum by the end of the year.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA