Northern Mali: An Islamic state?
As rebel groups debate how to impose Sharia, we examine the regional
implications of the creation of an Islamic state.
<
http://www.aljazeera.com/profile/inside-story.html> Inside Story Last
Modified: 31 May 2012 12:41
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Two rebel groups that took over northern Mali earlier this year had agreed
to form an alliance and create an Islamic state. But just what are the
regional implications of an Islamic territory in the West African country?
Ansar Dine is said to have links to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, while
the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad, or the MNLA, is led
by the Tauregs.
The two sides signed an agreement on Saturday but now their deal appears to
be unraveling because they disagree over how strictly to impose Islamic Law,
or Sharia.
Ibrahim Assaley, a member of the MNLA, explained: "We have refused to
approve the final statement because it is different from the protocol
agreement which we have signed.
"It is as if they want us to dissolve into Ansar Dine. That is
unacceptable."
The West African bloc ECOWAS was quick to reject the idea of an Islamic
state in northern Mali, while Francois Hollande, the newly elected French
president, was categorical - saying France would only consider involvement
in Mali under the framework of a UN Security Council decision.
The conflict in Mali began in March after a coup was staged by low-ranking
soldiers angry at what they said was a failure by the government to stamp
out a separatist rebellion in the north. They attacked various parts of the
capital, Bamako, including the presidential palace. Within 24 hours they had
announced that they had overthrown the elected government of President
Amadou Toumani Toure.
Three weeks later the coup leaders agreed to relinquish power to an interim
government, but by then it was too late and the rebellion in the north had
split the country in two.
It appears that there has been a rise in the number of African groups eager
to implement their interpretation of Sharia:
* In Somalia, al-Shabab controls southern parts of the country. With
links to al-Qaeda, its members describe themselves as fighting what they
call the enemies of Islam.
* In Nigeria, Boko Haram strongly opposes what it describes as
man-made law. Based in the north-east of the country, the group wants to
abolish the secular system of government.
* And in Algeria, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb wants to overthrow
the Algerian government and introduce an Islamic state.
So, just what are the implications of the creation of an Islamic state in
northern Mali?
Inside Story, with presenter Dareen Abughaida, discusses with guests: Shiraz
Maher, a senior fellow at the International Centre For The Study Of
Radicalisation at King's College, London; Akli Sh'kka, a spokesman for the
Imu-hargh Organization for Justice and Equality and a human rights advocate
for the Taureg and Beber people in Mali; and Sylvain Touati, an associate
fellow at the French Institute for International Relations and a specialist
on African politics.
"All the discussion of the relationship between the MNLA and the Ansar Dine
and how they are trying to avoid this internal conflict is happening at the
leadership level .... But you have to appreciate that the MNLA has been
campaigning and fighting for independence for a very long time and at the
grassroots that has been a campaign which is not Islamist, [it is] largely
secular and so if a leadership deal is made to avoid infighting, which
concedes power to the Islamists there is every chance that at the grassroots
people will rebel against the leadership of the MNLA. So the prospects for
conflict still remain very high."
Shiraz Maher, a senior fellow at King's College, London
_____
FACTS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN MALI:
* Taureg and Ansar Dine rebels seized control of Mali's north in March
* Mali's government rejects the creation of a new state in the north
called Azawad
* But the groups have disagreed over how to apply Islamic law in the
new state
* Ansar Dine says it wants to apply "pure and strict" Islamic law
* While the Taureg insist that Azawad state be covered by moderate
Islamic law
* Mali's transitional government wants to retake the territory
* The regional group ECOWAS says Mali's territorial integrity must be
maintained
* ECOWAS has force of 3,000 soldiers ready for a potential deployment
in Mali
* Regional and Western leaders have long feared a breakaway state in
Mali
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Received on Wed Jun 06 2012 - 09:30:38 EDT
