France welcomes implementation of Mali agreements on Tuareg

The French Foreign Ministry on Thursday welcomed the implementation of an agreement in Mali on the relocation of certain Tuareg populations in areas of north Mali in line with accords signed between the parties. After more than six months of intervention in Mali, French forces this week handed over security control of the country to UN forces, composed largely of African troops. But France has also vowed to help oversee political transition in Mali and the respect of rights for all populations. Tuaregs, who are part of the National Liberation Movement of Azawad, an autonomous area set up by Tuaregs until the French intervention, will now be stationed in Kidal, along with the Higher Council for the Unity of Azawad. This move will allow the regular Malian army to deploy to Kidal under the protection and good offices of the Tuareg fighters. The Kidal agreement is "a notable advance for Mali to recover its fully sovereignty over all of its territory, which was one of the fundamental objectives of the (French) operation" in Mali," the Foreign Ministry said here. Kidal has still been an on-going flashpoint for clashes between Tuareg tribesmen and Malian forces.