September 29 - October 5, 2015

1. Mali Peace talks suspended until mid-October

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L’INDÉPENDANT
“La seconde phase des pourparlers d’Alger observe une pause : Un projet d’accord en vue dès la reprise”, Bamako, in French, 29 Sep 2014

• Initiated on 1 September, the first round of the second phase of peace talks inclusive between armed groups and Malian authorities ended on 25 September.
• According to sources close to the mediation, this break is due to the Eid el Adha holiday.

2. PMS, civil society and armed groups express firce opposition to Federalism

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LE RÉPUBLICAIN
“Pourparlers d’Alger : L’Assemblée nationale s’oppose à l’autonomie des régions du nord”, in French, 29 Sep 2014

• The National Assembly of Mali adopted a declaration in which it denounces any propositions to create a special status for northern Mali, rejecting the ideas of autonomy, federalism and independence. 
• The Assembly welcomed the mobilization of Malian across the country to say no to independence and separatism. 

L’INDÉPENDANT
“Pour exprimer leur farouche opposition à la partition du pays : Les populations de la Cité des Balanzan battent le pavé”, Bamako, in French, 2 Oct 2014

• According to an informed source, thousands of people took marched in the streets of Ségou to express their opposition to the partition of Mali on September 30, 2014.
• Protestors were chanting slogans such as “No to partition, No to federalism, No to autonomy or any special status for northern Mali.”
• Similar marches took place in other cities across the country such as Bamako, Timbuktu, Gao, Sikasso, etc.

L’INDÉPENDANT
“Suite à la signature d’un document optant pour le fédéralisme à Alger : Quatre mouvements de la CM-FPR2 claquent la porte et créent la CM-FPR3”, Bamako, in French, 3 Oct 2014

• During a press conference held on 2 October 2014, four armed groups have announced the creation of a new rebel groups called CM-FPR3 in protest against the demands from their representatives in Algiers for the creation of a federal state. 
• These are the Force de Libération du Nord (FLN), Mouvement Tombouctou, Ganda Izo and Mouvement Patriotique Résistance et Dignité (MPRD).
• The newly created CM-FPR3 fully rejects any notion of autonomy, independence and federalism. 

Social Media

MOUHAMADOU TOURE, @mouhamadout, in French, 2 Oct 2014

• #Mali #ArmedGroups: Division of #CMFPR2, #CMFPR3 was created this morning. It expresses its total and irrevocable rejection of federalism.

 MOUHAMADOU TOURE, @mouhamadout, in French, 2 Oct 2014

• #Mali: Today, more than 4,000 people came out in #Mopti and #Koutiala to say no to the division of the country.

3. Political leader calls on Malians to be ready to take up arms against rebels

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L’INDÉPENDANT
“Le président des FAC, Seydou Amadou Touré à propos du Nord-Mali : Les Maliens doivent se préparer à défendre la patrie contre les groups armés”, Bamako, in French, 2 Oct 2014

• The President of the party Forces alternative pour le changement (FAC) Seydou Amadou Touré called on Malians to prepare psychologically, physically and morally to defend their country.
• Mr. Touré warned: “If peaceful and diplomatic efforts fail, there will be no other alternative but war.” 

4. MNLA leader arrested and released with impunity

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L’INDICATEUR DU RENOUVEAU
“Nord du Mali : Un ancien complice des djihadistes arrêté”, in French, 1 Oct 2014

• According to an informed source, a group of youngsters arrested Mohamed Zeyni Aguissa Maïga, who served as Minister of Youth and Sports during the occupation of northern Mali by MNLA in 2012.
• Arrested near the village of Forgo, Gao region, Aguissa Maïga was handed over to the Malian armed forces.
• The arrest has been confirmed by the Lt. Col. Souleymane Maïga, head of the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Malian armed forces.

L’INDÉPENDANT
“Les autorité maliennes cèdent encore à la volonté des séparatistes : Un cadre du MNLA relaxé sans autre forme de procès”, Bamako, in French, 3 Oct 2014

• Mohamed Zeyni Aguissa Maïga was released by Malian authorities with impunity.
• Despite detaining irrefutable evidence against him, Malian authorities argued that his release was necessary to consolidate confidence-building measures between the armed groups and them in the context of the Algiers peace talks. 

Social media

MNLA PAGE OFFICIELLE, @MnlaNews, in French, 2 Oct 2014

• #Azawad/Meneka – This morning’s protest for the release of brother Mohamed Zeini Maiga #MNLA #HCUA #MAA.

5. Magistrates trained on how to prosecute the most serious offences under international law

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L’INDICATEUR DU RENOUVEAU
“Traitement des crimes graves au regard des droits humains : Des magistrats et avocats outillés”, in French, 29 Sep 2014

• MINUSMA’s division of Human, in collaboration with the ICC and the OIF, organized from 24 to 28 August 2014, a training course for magistrates and lawyers on theories, techniques and practices in handling the most serious crimes under international criminal law.