The foundations for reflection on a common strategy among Tuareg movements were laid this week in Kidal, during the annual congress of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, which ended Tuesday, December 3 in the evening.

The MNLA is one of the armed groups signatory to the Algiers Peace Agreement that ended the conflict that began in 2012. It is part of a broader coalition, the CMA, the Coalition of Azawad Movements. In the conclusions of its congress, the MNLA calls for a "merger of all CMA movements".

"Merge, as soon as possible, within a single politico-military organization", this is what the MNLA proposes to other CMA movements. The idea is not new; it had already been proposed in Kidal in late October by another CMA movement, the High Council for the Unity of Azawad. The objective would therefore be to resolve disagreements in order to present a unified political discourse "within the framework of national construction", clarifies the HCUA.

The possibility of expanding the movement?

The MNLA is even considering expanding this movement to other groups in the north of the country that are not CMA members. In its conclusions, the MNLA clearly extends an appeal to members of the Platform, the other coalition signatory to the Algiers Peace Agreement.

For the time being, a merger is not being discussed, explains a member of the Platform, but a rapprochement within a broader coalition would be a path to consider. "Making compromises, speaking with one voice, this is what we have always demanded", he concludes.

First, an agreement must likely be found on a thorny point that divides the Tuareg community: a possible modification of the Algiers Agreement that will be discussed in Bamako during the major national dialogue scheduled for December 14.