The Mali government’s decision to appoint Major General El Hadj Gamou, a Tuareg, as the new governor of Kidal, a region recently reclaimed by the army, is being scrutinized.
This move is seen by some as a wise strategy to prevent a new Tuareg rebellion, while others view it as a potential trap.
Following the army’s takeover of Kidal, the largest city in the Azawad region in northern Mali, with the assistance of Russian Wagner forces, authorities appointed Hajj Ag Gamou as the governor. This region, a stronghold of the Tuareg rebellion, had been under their control since 2012.
The transitional government’s appointment of the official is perceived as a strategic choice aimed at ending the war in northern Mali.
For Bamako, reclaiming Kidal, a key Azawad stronghold, represents a significant victory against rebel groups and a strong message to both the Malian public and the international community.
On November 17, Colonel Ismail Wague, Minister of Reconciliation, Peace, and National Cohesion, released a statement urging residents to return home, assuring that measures have been taken to avoid any confusion.
Analysts believe the authorities are attempting to soften their approach after waging a non-discriminatory war against extremists linked to groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, or Azawad movements.
To support this new strategy of de-escalation, General Hajj Ag Gamou was appointed as the new governor of Kidal.
This military figure, known for his background, replaces Colonel Fody Malik Seck, whose recordings allegedly supporting rebel groups were leaked on social media just days earlier.
Earlier this month, the German military announced the withdrawal of half of its troops previously deployed as part of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces in Mali.
A spokesperson for the Operations Command stated that approximately 500 personnel remain in Mali and around 100 soldiers are still in neighboring Niger.
This move came as the German army set the goal to conclude its mission in Mali by the end of the current year.
