24 youths chased away from Kidal by MNLA arrive in Gao

The political and administrative authorities of Gao town on Tuesday received 24 black youths who were chased from the town of Kidal by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), sources in the town have said. Witnesses who were contacted by Xinhua from Gao, the biggest town in northern Mali, said the 24 youths who belonged to Sonra, Bambara, Peul and Bella tribes, were arrested in Kidal by MNLA and detained for about two days. "The MNLA has accused us of not taking part in the protest against the arrival of the Malian army in Kidal and our failure to support the independence of Azawad region," the youths said. "The MNLA told us that we are Malians and therefore we should leave Azawad. During our detention, we did not eat anything," they added. The same information was reported by the Malian national television on Tuesday evening. It will be recalled that since last week-end, there have been reports of "racial purge and other forms of abuses committed by MNLA against the black community in Kidal." While addressing the media on Monday, Mali's Communication Minister Manga Dembele noted that "if the reports regarding abuses, abductions and racial purge by the MNLA against the black community in Kidal are confirmed to be true, then those engaged in such acts will be punished severely."