ALGIERS - A coalition of armed groups in northern Mali has pulled out of long-running peace talks based on a 2015 Algiers accord because of what they call a lack of political will on the part of the country’s military government.
The coalition, called the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD), said in a statement on Thursday that it would only come back to the table if talks were held in a neutral country under international mediation.
“CSP-PSD regrets the persistent absence of political will of the transitional authorities to implement [the peace accord],” it said, adding it would “suspend participation” in the talks. There was no immediate comment from Malian authorities.
The announcement jeopardised the agreement signed in Algiers more than seven years ago between the West African country’s then-civilian government and armed groups to restore peace in the north, after rebels sought to break away from the capital Bamako in 2012.
