Mali: five days of talks to revive peace agreement

After several months of waiting, Mali's transitional government and armed groups from the North – loyalists and former separatists – who had signed the 2015 peace agreement, are meeting again under international mediation led by Algeria and which also includes the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This "decision-level meeting" is set to last the entire week.

"We will judge based on results but this is a start," explains an official from the former separatist rebels of the CMA. "We have been waiting for this meeting for a very long time," confirms the head of a group member of the so-called loyalist Platform. Working groups must tackle certain blockage points in the implementation of the peace agreement, foremost among them the quotas of fighters from armed groups who must be integrated into the so-called "reconstituted" Malian army. "We must debate the number of fighters involved for each group but also the branches in which they will be integrated – land forces, air force, gendarmerie, National Guard… – and also the hierarchy," explains a participant. The place granted to former rebels in command positions has so far been a significant sticking point.

According to the terms of reference drawn up by Mali's Ministry of Reconciliation, Colonel Ismaël Wagué, political and institutional questions "not linked to the constitutional revision" currently underway will also be addressed.

"We want to know how the peace agreement will be taken into account in the new Constitution," explains nonetheless the head of an armed group from the North.

At the opening ceremony, Mali's Minister of Reconciliation asked participants to "seize the opportunity" of these talks to "finally see Mali accede to a new era of peace and national cohesion".