Mali: At least 4 killed fresh clashes between Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) members and pro-government militias in the north
Barely hours after the Tuareg-led armed rebel groups said they would approve a preliminary peace deal with the government to end violence in northern Mali, fresh clashes in the region led to the deaths of at least four people on Wednesday. The renewed violence erupted between members of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) — a coalition of five rebel groups — and pro-government militias near the village of Ikadewan, according to media reports.
Mossa Ag Attaher, a leader of the CMA, told the Associated Press (AP) that unless members of the pro-government militias relinquish control over the northern town of Menaka, which was seized from the Tuareg rebels late last month, the violence would continue.
“If the militia does not leave Menaka through dialogue, we are going to use all means necessary to make them leave because this belongs to us and is recognized by the ceasefire accords and the international community,” Ag Attaher reportedly said.