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Mali gov't blames rebels's suspension in peace monitoring committee

Xinhua, August 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Mali government has termed the decision by the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA, northern rebels) to suspend participation in the Committee Monitoring the Peace Agreement as an obstacle to efforts to restore peace.

The decision was taken following the deterioration of the security situation in northern Mali region of Kidal, following mid-August clashes between pro-government militia and CMA, two groups that were signatories of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali.

The CMA said in a statement that the suspension of its participation in the committee will continue until the pro-government militia groups pull out of the positions that were initially occupied by CMA before the signing of the peace accord in June 2015.

CMA spokesman Almou Ag Mohamed, cited by the local press, said "CMA had neither withdrawn from the Committee Monitoring the Peace Agreement, nor the peace accord, but had only suspended its participation in the committee's activities."

He said it was difficult to implement terms of the agreement under the prevailing circumstances.

In a statement released on Monday evening, the Malian government said "before such a decision is taken, the concerned parties should first have discussed without suspending the process."

The Malian government urged the conflicting parties, CMA and pro-government militia, "to remember that the success of the process to restore peace largely depends on efforts of Malians."

It asked them to engage in "sincere dialogue" to enable the country respond to expectations of the Malian population to continue benefiting from the trust and support of the international community. Endit