About 40 residents of the troubled northern Mali town of Kidal today protested the plan for Tuareg rebels to hand back to the government control of an administrative building and a radio station.
The handover of the buildings was intended to strengthen the Mali government's control of Kidal, but the protests as well as the presence of armed Tuareg rebels have fuelled fears among officials and residents of continued insecurity in the city. The fears have been compounded by suspicion that Islamic extremists have returned.
Tuareg leaders in June signed an accord with the Malian government agreeing to garrison their fighters prior to disarmament. And leaders of the Tuareg National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad vowed to give up control of the governor's administrative offices and the radio station in Kidal tomorrow.
But today afternoon the protesters occupied the administrative building in an anti-government demonstration and refused to leave, said resident Mohamed Maiga.
The protesters had christened the building "Tahrir Square," a nod to the gathering place that is a frequent focal point for protests in Cairo, Egypt, said Maiga.
"Tuareg officials have not officially rejected the idea of handing over the keys to these buildings, but certain rebels are pushing women and children to protest against this move," said a Malian security source who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.
The killing earlier this month of two French radio journalists in Kidal highlighted the perilous security situation in the city.
Like other cities in northern Mali, Kidal fell to rebels including Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaida following a military coup in March 2012. Though a French-led military intervention succeeded in liberating much of northern Mali earlier this year, Kidal has remained in limbo.
Kidal resident Mohamed Ali was among several residents who described seeing Tuareg fighters ride around Kidal carrying guns, a violation of the June accord signed in neighbouring Burkina Faso that paved the way for this year's presidential election to be held in the city.
