The Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed its unhappiness and even disappointment at the Malian authorities’ decision to terminate the Algeria-brokered accord of peace signed back in 2015 with Tuareg rebels.
The Malian Transitional government had announced the decision in a release on Thursday, citing unfriendly and hostile acts amounting to interference in Mali’s internal affairs by Algeria, including hosting Malians prosecuted by the Malian judiciary for terror charges.
Addressing the Malian people, Algeria warned that the end of the agreement might jeopardize stability in the country and the whole Sahel and that it “falls upon it to inform Malian citizens” of such risks.
Algeria claimed that it has nothing but the best interest of Mali at heart, and that it has always showed solidarity and goodwill toward Malians. “The people of Mali should know that the long list of alleged reasons provided to justify the agreement termination is unrealistic.”
Algeria explicated that the decision was premeditated as the Malian authorities have been trying to withdraw from the deal for two years now and have refused all initiatives to revive it, including international mediation.
“All these systematic measures have prepared the ground for the military option to solve the Malian crisis at the expense of the political one,” said the Algerian Foreign Ministry.
Addressing the Malian people again, Algeria said that military actions pose a threat to Mali’s unity and territorial integrity, as it was learnt from the past, and might even engender civil war. “Repeating past mistakes does nothing but prolong the tragedy of the brotherly Malian people,” it concluded.