Malian gov't, rebels sign reconciliation agreement

ALGIERS, March 1 (KUNA) -- The Malian government and three rebel groups signed here Sunday a peace and reconciliation agreement paving the way for an end to the civil conflict in the impoverished African country.
The pact is the fruit of a marathon of five rounds of tough negotiations which started in July 2014, said the Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra in a press statement following the signing ceremony.
He underlined that the deal guarantees a comprehensive and lasting peace in northern Mali.
The agreement gives more powers to northern Mali and stipulates fair distribution of the state revenues.
It stipulates that the state has to spend 30 percent of tax revenue on the northern region's development.
The pact was signed by representatives of the Malian government, six political-military rebel movements, namely, the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA), the Coordination for the People of Azawad (CPA), the Coalition of the Patriotic Resistance Movements and Fronts (CM-FPR), the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA) and the Arab Movement of Azawad (dissident).
But the main Tuareg rebel alliance, the Coordination for Movements for Azawad (CMA) which comprises three groups seeking secession, asked for more time to thoroughly consider the pact and consult its grassroots.
Representative of the CMA said that the draft agreement included some items which have not been negotiated or agreed upon.
The international team which mediated the agreement comprised representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. (end) ft.ibi