ECOWAS strips status from Mali Coup Leader Capt. Sanogo

The Economic Community of West African States has stripped Capt. Sanogo who led the recent coup in March of this year of  his status of  former head of state. Sanogo has handed power to an interim government but continues to have influence within it.
  As part of the deal to give up power U.S. trained Sanogo was named former head of state and provided a salary of close to 9,000 dollars a month. ECOWAS refused to recognize the coup and hence is being consistent in not recognizing Sanogo as former head of  State. It is unclear if the move by ECOWAS will have much effect. After all it is the Malian government that gave Sanogo the title and salary.
   ECOWAS is becoming impatient with the transitional government.  At a conference in Burkina Faso Saturday the group demanded that a unity government be formed by July 31 or the group would withdraw recognition from the government. ECOWAS has been asking for a UN mandate to send forces to retake territory in Northern Mali. For more see  this article  and also here.

Rival Rebel Groups disagree over nature of new Azawad state in Mali

Although the Tuareg and Islamic militants have jointly driven out the Malian military from the northern area they are unable to agree on the nature of the newly declared independent Azawad.

The largest group is the Tuareg led National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA). This group fought most of the major battles against the Malian military. However, as they advanced the Islamic militant group Ansar Dine joined in the fray. This group wants Azawad to be a Taliban style state under Sharia law.

On the other hand the Tuareg some of whom fought for Gadaffi want a secular state. Gadaffi of course persecuted radical Islmanists. Some claim that Ansar Dine has ties to Al Qaeda. I always take such claims with a grain of salt. Often this is used as a justification for U.S. aid or even involvement. There are already U.S. special forces in Mali and the Malian military have been trained and provided aid by the U.S. One can expect a military move to oust the rebels after the political situation is sorted out down south.

A couple of months ago a U.S trained Capt. Sanogo led a successful military coup against the elected president. While he handed over power to a transitional civilian government he is still influential and of course was not punished for his actions.

The Tuareg want Azawad to ratify UN conventions on human rights and be a secular state. Both the Tuareg and Islamists have forces in major cities. So far they have avoided outright conflict. The groups no doubt realize they need unity to confront attempts by the Malian military to retake the territory. For more see this article.

Mali: Protesters attack and injure interim president.

Dioncounda Traore the interim president of Mali was scheduled to step down on Monday but an agreement between West African leaders and the recent coup leader Capt. Amadou Sanogo was reached for Traore to stay on for a year and organize elections.

Coup supporters were angered by the deal Protests have been held with the army saying it has shot three people dead. The deal also gave Sanogo perks as leader of a successful coup. He is now recognized as former head of state and given a salary and mansion! Do you hear any howls from the U.S. who trained him?

A journalist in Mali reported that soldiers let some demonstrators into Traore's office. Traore suffered a head wound and was taken to hospital for treatment but later released.

Capt Sanogo led a successful coup on March 22 turfing out the elected president. In reaction the regional bloc ECOWAS suspended Mali from membership. However a deal was reached for Sanogo to turn over power to an interim government under Traore former speaker of the house. The new deal was an extension of Traore's term. The north of the country has been taken over by Tuareg rebels who have declared independence. There are a few U.S. special forces in Mali.

The coup leader complained about lack of action by the government to put down northern rebels who are said to have ties to Islamic militants. ECOWAS has said it will send 3000 troops to help regain the northern territory but not when. One can expect continued bloodshed in Mali against northern rebels with the support of the U.S. who accuse some in the north of being tied to Al Qaeda. For more see this article.

Mali: Troops loyal to former president clash with coup fighters

Members of the presidential guard loyal to democratically elected but ousted president Toure fought with coup troops in Mali. However the ruling military leaders have announced on television that they control the state broadcasting building, the airport, and a key military base near the capital.

In a television message a military spokesperson said:"Elements from abroad, supported by some obscure forces within the country, carried out these attacks. Some of them have been arrested," It is not clear who the elements from abroad would be. The U.S. and the local country grouping ECOWAS have supported a transition civilian government that was negotiated with the coup leaders. Sanogo the coup leader was U.S. trained.

The presidential guard was never really in favor of the coup. The arrest of the former military chief along with attempts to arrest members of the presidential guard may have sparked the counter coup move. The guard is part of a regiment known as the Red Berets.

The Red Berets were said to be trying to capture the airport. A coup official said this was so that troops from ECOWAS could land. However ECOWAS had been part of successful negotiations for a transition government to be guided by the military..

Almost a week ago a 24 member cabinet was named by interim prime minister and former Microsoft executive Cheick Diarra. The government is to plan and supervise elections later this year. The coup leaders disrupted an election process that would have taken place if there had been no coup. For more see this article. The U.S. has some troops in Mali said to be on standby.

Mali: New Transitional President threatens total war in the north

Interview in Timbuktu

Mali is a mess. Over 200,000 people have fled the north to escape fighting, drought and food shortages. The Tuaraeg rebels have declared northern Mali as an independent republic of Azawad. But no countries have recognized Azawad.

Even within the area there are rival rebels. Timbuktu is held by a radical Islamist groups who came down from the mountains where they had fought for years. They are keeping Tuareg rebels out of the city while they impose their own rule. See the enclosed video.

The elected president of Mali was overthrown in a coup by U.S. trained Captain Sanogo. However a group of neighboring countries ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) placed sanctions on the country and no doubt with pressure from the U.S. as well Sanogo agreed to turn over power to a civilian government.

Elected president Amadou Toure was toppled by Sanogo's group on March 22. He formally resigned his position over the weekend, paving the way for the former speaker of the house Diaconda Traore to take over. No one seems to worry about the fact that the former president has no doubt been forced to resign since he was under "'protection"" of coup forces. There is almost no discussion of the fact that a democratically elected leader was overthrown and the perpetrators are not punished at all. In fact one suspects that they probably received promises of key positions during the transition government. That is not talked about much either.

Traore the new transitional president spoke of wanting peace and negotiations and then went on to promise total war if negotiations did not work out. He said:"I am president of a country that loves peace,"

After claiming he preferred the peace option he then made impossible demands upon the rebels:"We will not hesitate to wage a total and relentless war" He insists that this will happen unless the rebels leave the cities occupied. He says that he would negotiate with any group but Al Qaeda. However Al Qaeda is almost a term of convenience for any radical Islamists that authorities decide ought to be targets in the war on terror.

The transitional government is expected to consist of about 20 members including some from the Sanogo group. No doubt this was promised as a carrot to entice the group to surrender power at least nominally.

Traore has been tasked with organizing elections to return Mali fully to civilian rule. However the north is under the control of Tuareg and Islamist rebels so elections could only be held in the south. No doubt elections will be postponed indefinitely until such time as the northern territories are recaptured assuming they are.

As Traore places solving the situation in the north as a priority he will no doubt need the support of the military. The U.S. already has troops in the country on standby. Do not be surprised if drone attacks happen in the future. Everything however is now going as it should according to the power brokers. ECOWAS has dropped sanctions and the U.S. can support the regime since it is on its way to civilian rule. Everything is now legitimate and on the up and up. For more see this article.

Mali: Coup leader makes deal to hand over power to interim government

As usual the power brokers care little for actual democracy, The elected president Amadou Toure is not returned to his rightful role. He has resigned. No doubt he more or less had to. Perhaps he was given incentives. Who knows. Apparently it is neither here nor there that he is not restored to his rightful position.

There will no punishment of the U.S. trained coup leader Captain Sanogo. However in return for ceding power trade and diplomatic sanctions will be dropped.l.An Al Jazeera reporter said:"We understand from sources here that the military junta will get key political ministries in the [interim] government, most likely the ministry of defence." So the junta simply has their power seizure made legal in an interim government. The coup leader announced the handover together with a representative of ECOWAS the Economic Community of West African States.

Power will be handed over to the speaker of the parliament. He will organise elections and be sworn in as president. A national unity government is to be put in place during the next few days.

The deposed president has not been seen in public since he was overthrown on March 22. Apparently he will be able to live where he wants under army protection. Translated this means army surveillance. There was no timetable given for Sanogo to step down! However sanctions are expected to be lifted immediately.

There should be elections carried out within 40 days according to the constitution. However if the northern Turareg rebellion prevents this an interim transition government would be set up.

The northern Azawad region has declared independence but of course no one will recognise it. It is not supported by any great power in fact it will be regarded as a threat. It remains to be seen whether the rebels will agree to a ceasefire or if they do if the Malian government will accept it. The reason given for the rebellion is that the government was not forceful enough in putting down the Tuareg rebellion. For more see this article.

The Malian military claims that it seeks logistical support not foreign intervention. Do not be surprised if there are U.S. drone attacks in northern Mali. There are already a small team of U.S. special forces in the country. The military is already armed and trained by the U.S. Expect more violence in the future.