IBK dialogue offer to jihadists in Mali: the political class reacts

Text by: RFI Follow

Malian President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta confirmed yesterday on RFI that the authorities are trying to dialogue with two jihadist leaders, Iyad ag Ghaly and Amadou Koufa. Reactions.

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Within the president's party, the Rally for Mali, we welcome this approach, which is seen as a continuation of the conclusions of the inclusive national dialogue. But this dialogue must not cross certain limits, according to Me Baber Gano, secretary general of the RPM.

" There came a time when the president made the inclusive national dialogue, it is linked to the will of all the Malians, who expressed this wish, to dialogue with Iyad Ag Ghali and Amadou Koufa, in the recommendations of the national dialogue inclusive.

They are Malians ... I am not saying that what they had as an attitude towards Mali is tolerable. I think that the conditions for their reconciliation will be defined. There are red lines that should not be crossed. The partition of Mali, the republic, the territory of Mali, secularism, republican principles ... These are red lines that the president will never agree to cross ".

But this initiative is not unanimous in the political class. Moussa Mara, president of the Yelema party, says he is very reserved about the relevance of this approach. " Those who are behind these attacks, I am not sure that they intend to speak to anyone, since the attacks continue regularly. Then the second thing is that, even if they intend to discuss, will the terms of discussion be compatible with the Mali that we all know? What I doubt. That is to say, Sharia must be established, the Caliphate must be installed, the Constitution must be thrown away, a multi-faith State must be thrown away.

And the third thing, which is good news, is that, when you look at the terrain today, the terrorist groups that seem to be the strongest, are not necessarily those with which we want to discuss: the Islamic State in the Sahara , today, seems to be on the ground stronger than the Support Group for Muslims and Islam. All attacks from the three borders are Islamic State. We seem to focus on Iyad [Ag Ghali] and [Amadou] Koufa who are Malians, but in the field, it is no longer Iyad and Koufa who are the only actors or the bosses ”.

► Read also : Malian President IBK announces dialogue with jihadist leaders

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IBK President of Mali announces dialogue with jihadist leaders