What's new: is dialogue with jihadists in Mali possible?

Audio 00:04

By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

Publicity

President IBK answered yes on the antenna of RFI. Yes, and “ why not? Exclaims Le Républicain in Bamako, in line with the Head of State. " IBK understood, writes the newspaper, that the best position was that of the will of its people on the issue of dialogue with the jihadists, despite an unfavorable international opinion. (…) Why not (this dialogue)? Exclaims Le Républicain, since Algeria today breathes national harmony, (…) Why not, if negotiations have been able to take place with extremists in Afghanistan? It is time for certain avenues to be explored. The targeted interlocutors, namely Iyad Ag Ghali of GSIM, Amadou Koufa, head of Katiba Macina, and possibly Abou Walid al-Sahraoui of the Islamic State in the great Sahara, will they be on the same wavelength as the High representative (Dioncounda Traoré) of the President of the Republic? The goal of this ultimate enterprise, says the Bamakois daily , is to find in their entourage such a being sensitive to a discourse of reason, at a time when the chances of prospering on the path of terrorism are quite reduced, with the return of the army Malian in Kidal, next Friday, the strengthening of French forces of Barkhane with a new contingent of 600 soldiers and the appointment by the United States of a special envoy for the Sahel. "

"Study all tracks"

In any case, “ in Bamako, this announcement by the Head of State was generally well received , Pointe Jeune Afrique . 'The President made his reason speak, not his heart. He wants peace. And for that, it is necessary to study all the tracks. We must speak with all the sons of the country, ' says Imam Mahmoud Dicko. Other political leaders are questioning the content of this dialogue and its implementation. For Cheick Omar Diallo, of the Democratic Alliance for Peace, 'jihadist leaders are essential to restore peace. But I wonder, he continues, about the form that this dialogue will take and its basic principles. Will they agree to recognize the principles of secularism and democracy in Mali? These two questions must not be negotiable '. "

Unknown ...

Negotiate with the jihadists? " We are waiting to see, " exclaims Le Pays in Ouagadougou. Because, " nothing says (indeed) that these negotiations will not stumble on maximalist claims of jihadist leaders , estimates the Burkinabe daily, claims that would be unacceptable to the authorities of Bamako, if they want to preserve the republican form and secular of the state. If we add to all these imponderables the fact that Iyad Ag Ghali and Amadou Koufa have no control over all the armed groups operating in central and northern Mali, we can only wait to see, hoping that all will rally to the cause of peace and that this possible divine surprise will have positive repercussions in Niger and Burkina Faso . "

Observer Paalga , for his part, is rather circumspect: “ if in principle, we cannot blame the Malian president for seeking all the ways and means to relieve the pain of his compatriots, it must be recognized that he s 'is engaged in a perilous adventure, full of questions, with an uncertain outcome (…). "

France is wary…

And what does France think of all this? Response from Le Monde Afrique : " Faced with a probable American military disengagement, still struggling in the mobilization of Europeans but aware that 'the scalp strategy' is not enough, France is today looking with caution openness towards the man whom she has long considered the number one public enemy in the region. 'Is it to reintegrate or isolate Iyad Ag Ghali ?, wonders an official French source, interviewed by Le Monde Afrique. For us, the red line is always the same. We do not see the point of negotiating with a man whose agenda is that of Al-Qaida. And, in the event that he comes to reconnect with his past as a romantic rebel, it is better to negotiate in a position of strength. That's not the case today'. "

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Download the app

• Newspaper
• Mali
• Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta