Paris and Bamako are no longer on the same line concerning possible negotiations with the jihadist groups that are rife in Mali.

Visiting the Malian capital, the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, firmly rejected, Monday, October 26, the idea of ​​discussions with Islamist rebels linked to Al-Qaeda or to the Islamic State organization ( EI).

The Malian transitional Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane, for his part stressed that the "inclusive national dialogue", a vast national consultation held at the end of 2019, had "very clearly indicated the need for an offer of dialogue with the" jihadist armed groups.

This dialogue should be seen "as an opportunity to engage in a broad discussion with the communities in order to define the contours of a new governance", he explained, advocating "coordination" with the partners of Mali, " especially those who intervene at the military level ", foremost among which is France, which has deployed 5,000 soldiers in the Sahel.

"Things are simple"

A perspective rejected by the head of French diplomacy, who recalled that these jihadist groups had not signed the 2015 peace agreement, considered a basis for restoring peace in northern Mali.

"Let's say it very clearly: there are peace agreements (...) These peace agreements have been validated by a certain number of signatories, including armed groups," Jean-Yves Le Drian told the press.

"And then there are terrorist groups that did not sign the peace accords. Things are simple."

Present in northern Mali, the "signatory groups" are former rebels, mainly Tuareg, as well as pro-government armed groups, having adhered to the 2015 peace accords negotiated in Algiers.

Islamist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the IS group have not signed these agreements and have been stepping up their actions for five years, killing hundreds.

Researcher at the International Crisis Group (ICG) study group, Jean-Hervé Jezequel emphasizes that jihadists are "rooted in communities, sometimes have their sympathy" and that they "manage part of the territories".

This is why, after years of war against the jihadists, "a growing number of actors, without letting go of the military option, are also trying to explore the path of dialogue," he believes.

Discussion channels

Emissaries were thus sent by the Malian authorities in early 2020 to Iyad Ag Ghaly and Amadou Koufa, two figures of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), a jihadist nebula linked to Al-Qaeda, responsible for many attacks.

Very little information filtered through these contacts until the overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

The military, who have since put in place a transition that is supposed to return power to civilians within 18 months, have shown their willingness to give the country a fresh start.

These debates on the strategy to be followed come after a recent exchange of some 200 detainees requested by the jihadists against four hostages - a Malian opposition leader, Soumaïla Cissé, the French Sophie Pétronin and two Italians.

Paris very quickly marked its distance from the conditions accepted by Bamako to obtain the release of the hostages.

The prospects of a lull on the ground after this operation quickly faded: in mid-October, 12 civilians, 11 soldiers and a peacekeeper were killed in attacks and explosions attributed to the jihadists.

With AFP, Reuters

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR