Article 2:
Armed groups in northern Mali pull out of Algiers peace talks
On Thursday, December 22, 2022 a coalition of armed groups, called the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD), pulled out of peace talks between a number African countries. The long term talks, based on the Algiers Accord of 2015, was designed to create an environment of peace between the armed groups in Mali and other north African countries and the government of Mali. It also sought to decentralize Mali and integrate rebels into the army, as well as bolster the economy of northern africa as a whole. Although the rebels that attempted to overthrow the government seven years ago were defeated after the accord was put in place, numerous outbreaks or violence (including 2 coups) have continued to destabilize the economy, and the country has not yet been decentralized. Because of this slow progress and regret regarding the “persistent absence of political will of the transitional authorities to implement [the peace accord],” expressed by the CSP-PSD, they formally moved to suspend their participation in the agreement. Additionally, the coalition stated they would only rejoin talks if they were held in a neutral country under international mediation.
This situation has a great impact on the countries involved and the region as a whole. Obviously there is still lots of violence in Mali and the surrounding areas, but CSP-PSDs maneuver to leave an agreement attempting to keep the peace between governments and militant groups might lead to more violence than if they stayed in the agreement, despite its limited effect on the events within the region. On the other hand, the decision of a large coalition to leave a long standing agreement of peace might be the event that spurs change on the part of governments in Africa or outside aids that makes a difference. Perhaps those in the Algiers Accord will move to appease the demands of the coalition or they won’t, but whatever happens, it is probable that there will be more violence and tension as a result of the present situation.
In International Relations, we have discussed different international actors and how they play into the global dynamic currently playing out. An agreement between various governments and armed groups is an example of how other entities besides individual nations can act to play a role in a certain region. We have also discussed the theory of realism, which has a decidedly pessimistic worldview and asserts that the world does not have any set way of operating and instead is in a constant state of chaos. This view is reflected here as there seems to be no hard and fast set of rules for states and actors to act in accordance with, but rather a thread of chaos that allows anyone to do anything.