Djelloul Chetouane in Africa News: the “Kidal statement” is redrawing the Sahel’s equations

Following up on what the newspaper Africa News published about developments in northern Mali, new elements confirm that what is happening in Kidal is no longer an isolated event but a strategic shift reshaping the balance of power in the Sahel.

In this context, Mr Djelloul Chetouane, president of Hisn Al-Mateen Bloc, believes that the “Kidal statement” marks a turning point in the crisis, revealing a clear decline in the Malian army’s performance in contrast with the notable rise of local actors, foremost the Azawad movements.

He stresses that a return to the 2015 Algiers Agreement has become a necessity, but that the failure to actually implement its provisions has complicated the situation and prolonged the crisis.

He also emphasises that a purely security-based approach has shown its limits, and that the solution lies in a comprehensive political process that takes account of the region’s specificities and gives local actors a real role.

Amid these developments, autonomy emerges as one of the realistic possible scenarios, within the framework of preserving states’ unity while responding to the demands of local populations.

In conclusion: what is happening in Kidal today is a genuine redrawing of the Sahel’s equations, requiring in-depth analysis and a strategic vision rather than stop-gap solutions.