The territory of Kidal in Northern Mali is now under the control of the Malian army. This part of the country has been plagued for almost 10 years by insecurity caused by the rebels of the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP). France had installed its military bases there, notably with Operation Barkhane, followed by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma). 10 years later the two missions have failed to stabilize the city. Assimi Goïta and his army reached it in 14 days.
Safety In Kidal Now Guaranteed
It was on Tuesday, November 14 that the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) announced that they had recaptured the city of Kidal. After the departure of Minusma on October 31, the Tuareg rebels announced with great fanfare that they were taking control of the city. But that was without counting on the strategist Colonel Assimi Goïta, boss of the Malian transition. The latter had already prepared a battalion to intervene in the region. Posted in Gao, this battalion awaited to regain control of the city. This was celebrated by Kidal residents showing their joy through scenes of jubilation in the streets.
During the occupation of the Tuareg rebels, a good part of the city’s population had deserted the region to escape the abuses committed by the CSP jihadists. After the recapture, the city is now calm and repopulation has begun. The government has called on all who had fled the city to return. The army will set up its bases in Kidal to guarantee a permanent security.
The Troubled Game Of France And The UN
It is mind boggling to know that in 10 years, the French army, represented by Barkhane soldiers and the United Nations, via Minusma, have not succeeded in thwarting the actions of the jihadists in this region of the country. Especially when we know how the latter boast of their armies being unparalleled in efficiency. This beg the question about the real motivations of Western peacekeeping missions in Africa.
We are tempted to think that Westerners, through their peacekeeping missions, are instead maintaining instability in Africa. Anything that graciously serves their interests and allows them to deploy geostrategically on the continent is what they’re after. The city of Kidal is a good illustration of this. Located just 100 km from the capital Bamako and at the crossroads of large cities like Gao and Tomboctou and straddles Algeria, it’s a golden position for Westerners to carry out their missions in the Sahel region under the umbrella of a peacekeeping mission.
