How the Malian Media Views Conflict in the North -

In local outlet after local outlet, non-Tuareg politicians from the north, members of the northern diaspora and analysts in Bamako have been going out of their way to blame the MNLA for what has come to pass. In print, one reads that the MNLA “opened the door… they started all this” or “they knew better than to collaborate with Islamists but did it anyways.” Editorials regularly refer to the MNLA as “opportunists”, “criminals” and “traitors.”

. . . The important takeaway is that those who read the Malian press will be privy to this discourse and have a better sense of how non-Tuareg (as well as Tuareg who don’t support the MNLA) might react to external proposals to “leverage” or “cut a deal” with the MNLA. These are important details.

(In other words, don't expect a political deal w/ secular Tauregs)

[link to ptinti.com]