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Kagame, African leaders Witness Signing of Mali Peace Deal

by Dan Ngabonziza
12:53 am

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Friday arrived in Mali’s capital Bamako, to join other African leaders to witness the signing of Algiers Accord.

The Algeria-pushed peace deal in Mali, analysts say, could mark an end to three years of political crisis that has hit the West African country.

President Kagame is a key attendee at the signing ceremony, given that a senior army officer in Rwanda Defence Force, Gen. Bosco Kazura was appointed by United Nations to head the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (Minusma).

Rwanda is a biggest contributor of United Nations peacekeeping missions, with over 4,650 troops deployed around the World.

The country was the first to send troops to the conflict-hit Central Africa Republic and S. Sudan. Rwanda is globally ranked 6th, among the biggest troops contributor in peacekeeping operations.

Algeria has been pushing for the peace deal, following a coup that overthrew Mali government in 2012.

On Thursday, Tuareg-led rebels signed a preliminary peace agreement with the government as a sign of ending decades of separatist fighting.

Mali’s government had accepted the UN and Algeria’s requested deal in March, but the Tuareg-led coalition argued that it fell short of their demands for the northern region.

The agreement that was signed will bring together all parties, including Malian government and the armed groups in the country’s north to seek a lasting peace and stability in the country.