Niger Rebels Contemplate Putting Down Arms

The president of the Niger rebel group, Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ), Aghali Ag Alambo, said the faction was ready to accept the mediation of the Libyan guide Moammar Kadhafi and lay down arms, the national television of Niger announced on Monday evening.
“Our elements will put down their arms (…) we believe Libya can solve the rebellion problems of Niger and Mali,” Alambo said in a report of the Niger television covering a great event of the Tuareg tribes of the greater Sahara.

The Nigerien rebel leader added that his Malian counterpart, Ibrahim Bahanga, also favors a Libyan mediation in the conflict that is raging between their respective movements and the governments of Niger and Mali.

There was no official reaction over these statements on Tuesday in Niamey, as Niger authorities exclude any negotiations with the MNJ which they considered as a “group of gangsters and drug traffickers”.

Founded in February 2007, the MNJ claims, among others, the employment priority to the populations of uranium and oil-rich northern Nigerien cities.

During this meeting of the Tuareg tribes on 17 August, the Libyan leader objected to the claims of giving a quota to the workers of mining companies in the north of Niger.

According to Kadhafi, this issue could be solved through dialogue and would not require the use of weapons.

Source African Press Agency

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