Mali peace is slipping away

Significance

However, opposition political parties and former rebels, most prominently northern Mali’s main ex-rebel bloc, the Coordination of Movements of Azawad (CMA), refuse to participate in the dialogue. Substantial tensions between the government and CMA present worrying signals about the trajectory of Mali's peace process.

Impacts

• Rising insecurity will prompt neighbouring states to apply greater pressure on Bamako to resolve the situation in northern Mali.
• Jihadist leader Iyad ag Ghali will be central to resolving the political question in the north.
• France’s opposition to talks with jihadists may delay or preclude altogether such an option.