APA-Bamako (Mali) The announcement was made late this afternoon in the communiqué issued by Mali’s Council of Ministers. The President of the Transition has appointed Major General El Hadj Gamou as the new Governor of Kidal. He replaces Colonel Fode Malick Sissoko, who was arrested last week after one of his telephone exchanges was leaked, in which he pledged allegiance to the rebel leader Algabass Ag Intalla.
This highly experienced senior officer joined the army in the mid-90s. This earned him a number of major assignments, including as a UN peacekeeper. He distinguished himself in several battles against rebels and jihadist groups. Before joining the army, he was a member of the Libyan army’s Green Legion and fought in this capacity in a number of Arab countries, including Syria.
On his return to Mali, he had for a time been on the side of the rebels before turning his back. He is one of the few officers from northern Mali not to have deserted after joining the Malian army.
He arrives in a region that is not entirely under Malian state control, since the regular army only recaptured the town from the rebels on November 13. General Gamou is no stranger to the region, having served as zone commander. What’s more, he was part of the army’s setback in 2014 during former Prime Minister Moussa Mara’s controversial visit to the town.
Having become acceptable to the rebels, he had fiercely fought them as a member of the army or when he was suspected of being the military leader of the ‘Groupe d’Autodefense Imghad et Allies (Imghad and Allied Self-Defense Group, GATIA) – the pro-government armed movement that signed the 2015 Peace Agreement. This has led some observers to say that in accepting this position, General Gamou knows he is walking on eggshells and will surely face adversity.
Prior to his appointment, it was said that he was at loggerheads with the President of the Transition after being removed from his post as Inspector General of the Armed Forces. Apparently, contact has been renewed. In his new role, General Gamou will be responsible for ensuring the security of people and property in the country’s 8th administrative region. He will also have to do his utmost to work towards the revival of socio-economic activities and the return of basic social services.
MD/ac/fss/abj/APA