France and other European countries have decried the ongoing coup in Mali.
But is there a connection between the coup and last year's NATO attack on Libya?
The soldiers involved in the coup have stated that their grievances with the sitting government are primarily related to low-level conflict between government forces and an insurgency amongst the Tuareg. The soldiers have complained of being inadequately armed.
The Tuareg are scattered across several countries, the boundaries of which were determined arbitrarily by colonial powers. In this sense, they are like the Kurds--a people rebelling against several countries, hoping to create a nation out of their ancestral lands. The Tuareg do not recognize the artificial boundaries that bind them. They have been a despised and mistreated minority in the different countries of the Sahara. Although a low-level rebellion has been brewing for many years, it was largely mitigated by Algeria and Libya.
The Tuareg had been grateful to Colonel Gaddafi, who had saved thousands of them during a famine in 1973. Many Tuareg took shelter in Libya after conflicts in Mali and Niger, and many served in Gaddafi's forces.
After Gaddafi's fall, heavily armed Tuareg returned to Mali, and the insurgency in northern Mali flared up. Which brings us to today.
Despite the geographical proximity, the only impact I can see the coup having on Ghana is that Ghana may have to send troops as part of an ECOWAS peacekeeping mission.
But is there a connection between the coup and last year's NATO attack on Libya?
The soldiers involved in the coup have stated that their grievances with the sitting government are primarily related to low-level conflict between government forces and an insurgency amongst the Tuareg. The soldiers have complained of being inadequately armed.
The Tuareg are scattered across several countries, the boundaries of which were determined arbitrarily by colonial powers. In this sense, they are like the Kurds--a people rebelling against several countries, hoping to create a nation out of their ancestral lands. The Tuareg do not recognize the artificial boundaries that bind them. They have been a despised and mistreated minority in the different countries of the Sahara. Although a low-level rebellion has been brewing for many years, it was largely mitigated by Algeria and Libya.
The Tuareg had been grateful to Colonel Gaddafi, who had saved thousands of them during a famine in 1973. Many Tuareg took shelter in Libya after conflicts in Mali and Niger, and many served in Gaddafi's forces.
After Gaddafi's fall, heavily armed Tuareg returned to Mali, and the insurgency in northern Mali flared up. Which brings us to today.
Despite the geographical proximity, the only impact I can see the coup having on Ghana is that Ghana may have to send troops as part of an ECOWAS peacekeeping mission.
They should make turegs tricitizens or how eve rmany nesseary. Problem solved by an ignorent.
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