Mali officials, armed groups to discuss peace in Algeria

The African Union (AU) Mission to Mali and the Sahel has called on Mali’s government and representatives of armed groups to ensure transparency and good will as the parties begin peace negotiations in neighboring Algeria on Wednesday.

Issaka Souare, the special adviser to the head of the AU mission and former Burundian president Pierre Buyoya, says the African Union and its international partners will be present at the talks to help broker a peace deal to as part of its objective to ensure peace and stability as well as enable the West African country maintain its territorial integrity.

“One of the African Union objectives is to assist the Malian authorities and the parties to get to these inclusive talks, which we hope will lead to a greater amelioration of the security situation, but also a definitive resolution of the conflict including the military aspect in terms of the demobilization and reintegration in whatever ways the Malians will agree of former combatants of armed movements,” said Souare.