#Mali: a Franco-Mauritanian Disaster (Nouvel Observateur)

Independent website “For Mauritania” has very usefully produced the article from the French newspaper “Le Nouvel Observateur”  that has been mentioned in several mainstream news sites but without showing us that actual item. Now, thanks to “For-Mauritania”, we can see for ourselves. They did indeed describe Aziz and Sarkozy as co-conspirators whose scheme to neutralise the AQIM threat has failed, and who are at a loss what to do about the new situation in Mali.

In its issue 2475, published 12 April 2012, the French weekly Nouvel Observateur describes France’s confusion over the situation in Mali, and how the French had gambled and lost by betting on the fighters of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) to control the situation in northern Mali, with Mauritania’s Ould Abdel Aziz as intermediary. Contrary to the expectations and calculations of the Mauritanian authorities, northern Mali is now 90% under the control of AQIM and its allies, the country is in turmoil, 14 European hostages are still unaccounted for, and the entire region is on the verge of a major humanitarian disaster because of the displacement of people fleeing the fighting.

Mali: a French disaster (Nouvel Observateur No. 2475 of 12 April 2012)

Article in pictures: click on an image to view full size

‘We didn’t expect this collusion between AQIM and Tuareg,’ a former ambassador admits, with regret. ‘We underestimated the threat.’

For Mauritania editors add:

It seems Ould Abdel Aziz had convinced the French of the potential to create an autonomous Tuareg entity (region or state) which would be able to take on the fight against AQIM, with Aziz as the point of contact, providing assistance and logistics. Given the situation in northern Mali, it is clear that Ould Abdel Aziz was way off course, and his mentor Sarkozy along with him.

Without consulting the Mauritanian Parliament, Ould Adel Aziz committed our soldiers to a war on foreign soil, whose goals are unrelated to the interests of the country. In normal times and in a normal democracy, Ould Abdel Aziz would be tried by the High Court for forfeiture. But we can not ask that of Master Sidi Mohamed Ould Maham, President of the said High Court and at the same time, chief propagandist of power.

For Mauritania.

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Tags: AQIM, Azawad, France, Mali, Mauritania, MNLA, Ould Abdel Aziz