Mali/War/Opinion

It is Time for action

By Adamou Mohamed

Towards a“Talibanization”of Northern Mali: When Will the UN Security Council Intervene? The United Nations Security Council must take a decisive lead in the resolution of the humanitarian and security crisis that is developing in Northern Mali before it is too late.

Despite flagrant and blatant human rights abuses and war crimes committed by Al-Qaeda affiliated Islamist groups from all horizons in Northern Mali, Ansar-Dine rebel groups and its Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) ally, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and former ‘Khadafists” boosted by the spillover of arms and fighters from last year’s Libyan conflict have conquered and declared, since April 2012, Northern Mali to be an Islamic state. This followed a military coup in March by Mali junior military officers, which toppled the civilian government of President Amani Toure in the capital Bamako.

With the brutal oppression of freedom in the name of Shari’a in rebel occupied territory of 300,000 square miles, civilians are facing a constant threat of being amputated for minor infringements. Unmarried couples or anyone caught having extra marital sexual relationships could be stoned to death, or if lucky, could get away with a hundred public lashes in cities like Kidal, Gao, and Tombouctou. Furthermore, smoking a cigarette, listening to music, having un-Islamic phone ringtones, discussions between men and women, public displaying of a woman’s hair, drinking alcohol beverages-punishable by ten to fifty lashes, have all been banished according to islamists rules. In short, free expression and opposition is inexistent; these actions are reminiscent of the “talibanization” of Afghanistan period.

The international community is still undecided

Despite the fact that northern Mali has become a magnet, a safe haven and a launching pad for international terrorists’activities in the region and beyond, the international community is still undecided on what action to take. It is clear that the risk of having a terrorist sanctuary in the north of the country represents a great threat for regional and international security. It seems however that no one can stop them. From their base in northern Mali, they can easily destabilize Senegal, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger; and they have. This is just for a start! To many observers, their sight is set on Europe’s interests.

Recent kidnappings of foreign workers, particularly of Western origin, in Niger, Mauritania and Mali into the Islamists held area of Northern Mali have harmed the tourism industry in this region and are indications of what is to come. Some victims have been released on ransom while some have perished during rescue missions. Recent attack on the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya that led to the death of Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans have been linked to members of al-Shari ‘a following intercepted phone calls by US intelligence in which they were heard bragging about pulling off the attack to member of AQIM.

Yet, it took the loss of American lives for the Security Council to realize the danger ahead. The UN Security Council is finally getting its acts together on this crisis. With the humanitarian and security situation in Mali rapidly deteriorating day by day, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2071 on October 12, 2012, citing the threat to regional peace from terrorists and Islamic militants in rebel-held northern Mali. Although eight months late, this resolution, that will pave way for a possible military intervention within forty-five days to restore the territorial integrity of the West African nation, demands that all armed groups cease all human rights abuses and violations of humanitarian law, including targeted attacks against civilians, sexual violence, the recruitment of child soldiers and forced displacements.

Rapid humanitarian and security situation deterioration

One would think that Chapter VII of the UN Charter which already allows the Council to authorize the use force in the name of humanitarian intervention in response to gross violations of human rights norms is sufficient enough to take action against these “angels of death and destruction”. Actions could be taken by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security by the forces of member states without going through the usual bureaucracy and politicking at the UN. Hence, it took the UNSC eight long months to react. As this was not long enough, it gave forty-five more days for the terrorists to prepare. Forty-five more days of agony the poor Malians will have to endure. All this while, more than 500,000 people have been displaced according to the UN office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

While awaiting a military resolution, which should be the ultimate outcome, African leaders under the hospice of the Africa Union (AU), the US, whose interest is not at stake, and France, the former colonial power in the region, are sorting out their difference on how to resolve the crisis. The US, on the one hand, seems to prioritize the formation of a national union government capable of running the country before any military action could be undertaken. France, on the other hand, looks to be supporting a military action but does not want to take the initiative. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has laid out its plan to send a 3300 strong force to liberate Northern Mali with the hope that the UN Security Council will give the green light for an international intervention by the end of November or early December. Let’s hope the “orange light” at the Council turns green sooner enough to end the suffering of the poor people of Mali. In the meantime, American drones stationed in Nouakchott and Ouagadougou monitor the region.

The UN has finally passed a resolution but the politics of international relations is still hindering any foreseeable action in the immediate future. The AU has failed in its mission to secure the intergrity of its members’ borders. It is time for action