Atmosphere here in Kidal is both enthusiastic and defiant as the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) objected to sign the document, and frosty as the population hoped that they would be a full agreement on the document proposed by the international community. The majority of Kidal inhabitants, who were interviewed, stated they only wish for autonomy and to deal alone with their own business. For them, this is the only way to bring peace indefinitely to North Mali. Here are some of the feelings and comments expressed by the population.
« It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept and agree on this document, and should it be the case, it would be under duress. And hence, without a doubt, serious consequences will happen everywhere as soon as they try to implement the agreement », explains a man from Kidal who wishes to keep anonymous for his own safety.
«We want that peace returns with method and resolve ». A warden here in Kidal adds: « A propos Algiers agreement: if this is the way to reconcile with one another, may God help do it, but if it is to the contrary, then we don’t want it. Here on the territory of Azawad, I don’t have problems with anyone. I work as I want. ».
« To my mind, regarding the agreement as was signed by the Malian state, if Mali comes to us in peace, with positive thoughts towards us, then I see no problems. And even if we are in Mali, here is our territory», says in Tamashek language, a tailor in his shop in the city centre of Kidal.
In Kidal, the question of signing the peace agreement between Bamako and Kidal feeds all conversations. « I do not see nothing important in this agreement, I share the same vision as my people here, and that of our different movements», said a carpenter in the Etambar area of Kidal. « As to the draft which was signed, my opinion is: if one can work out what we have won there, I really prefer that we take it and that we sign peace. Whether or not there is something for us there, we are tired, the population is really tired», says a spare parts resellers in the city centre of Kidal
An artist, a singer, disagrees: « No really, we the people of Kidal, we are not happy at all. We want our land. Our Land is Azawad. No more no less».
And some see the politics and the hands of the country neighbouring Mali. « The agreement is biased because Algeria had at any price to obtain a compromise between Mali and Azawad, Mali apparently got satisfaction, because they say the agreement is well balanced, but for us, no way, it is not well balanced because we did ask at the beginning to get Independence, a Federation and after that we moved to a large autonomy and now we don’t even have a meagre autonomy », critises Izga Ag Sidi, an inhabitant of Kidal.