Mali’s military rulers have terminated a peace deal with Tuareg rebels in the country’s north, potentially escalating instability in the Sahel nation.
According to junta spokesman Col Abdoulaye Maïga, the decision to end the 2015 peace agreement was prompted by a “change in [the]posture of certain signatory groups” and “acts of hostility” by the lead mediator, Algeria.
The peace deal was crucial for maintaining stability as Tuareg rebels had engaged in violent activities against the central government since 2012.
The Algerian government has not yet responded to the announcement.
The Tuareg group expressed no surprise at the decision, having previously suspended their participation in the deal last month. They called for a crisis meeting with the Malian government on neutral ground.
In recent months, rebel attacks have intensified, resulting in territorial gains in northern Mali. However, they have also faced strong opposition from the Malian armed forces, aided by personnel from the Wagner Group, a Russian military contractor. French forces and UN peacekeepers have withdrawn from the country amid these developments.
