Government launches big development scheme in rebel areas

The government has launched a multi-million dollar economic development programme in the remote north of Mali, as part of a recent deal signed with Tuareg rebel groups to end instability in the region. Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure launched the US $21 million programme, known as ‘ADRE-NORD’ and supported by the European Union, at a special ceremony last week. “[This programme] will kick-start a new dynamic in economic development in Mali’s northern regions and will contribute to wealth creation and poverty reduction,” Toure said on Thursday. Nomadic Tuareg herders from the remote northeast corner of Mali bordering Algeria complain of government neglect of their people. Hundreds died and 150,000 fled the country in a Tuareg secessionist rebellion in 1990. And despite a peace deal the following year, there was sporadic trouble in the region until the mid-1990s. Fears of a new spate of secessionist violence surfaced only last May when Tuareg rebels, many believed to be army deserters, attacked government barracks in the northern towns of Kidal, Menaka and Tessalit, seizing weapons and demanding a better economic deal for their region as well as a measure of self-government. In a deal signed with the Tuareg fighters earlier this month, the government promised to increase development assistance to the impoverished Tuareg north of the country on condition of an end to rebellion. President Toure used the ceremony to highlight two public works projects currently underway in northern Mali, a dam construction at Taoussa and a road building project linking the northeastern city of Gao with Mali’s eastern neighbour, Niger. As well as financial investment, President Toure gave more powers to local governments in the 4 July peace deal, primarily on development issues. ca/ss/ccr