Update to Response to Information Request NER18052.E of 23 August 1994 on the Tuareg rebels, and information on whether ethnic Hausas have been accused of supporting the Tuareg [NER22856.E]

Information on whether ethnic Hausas are supporting or have supported the Tuareg rebels could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

According to two sources the Niger government and Tuareg representatives signed a peace accord in October 1994, with the intention of negotiating a final agreement to end the Tuareg rebellion within six months (ARB 24 Nov. 1994, 11599; Africa No. 1 9 Oct. 1994).

On 15 April 1995 the Niger government and the organization representing the Tuareg factions concluded a peace agreement to formally end armed conflict between their respective forces (AFP 15 Apr. 1995; ARB 23 May 1995, 11830). The agreement, which was formally signed 24 April 1995 (Voix du Sahel Network 24 Apr. 1995), includes an amnesty for defence, security and rebel forces involved in the conflict, provisions for general disarmament, and a committee to oversee the implementation of the terms of the agreement (ibid.; Radiodiffusion Nationale du Burkina Radio 15 Apr. 1995).

In July 1995 the government declared that it had released all members of Tuareg rebel groups as part of the amnesty provisions in the peace agreement (Africa No. 1 25 July 1995).

Despite sporadic armed clashes between the Tuareg and the military since the peace agreement was signed, talks have continued between the government and the Tuareg movements on how to implement the accord (AFP 2 July 1995; ibid. 12 Oct. 1995; ibid. 27 Nov. 1995; ARB 23 Nov. 1995; Africa No. 1. 5 Dec. 1995).

Since October 1994 the Tuareg movement, consisting of six factions, has been beset by internal divisions over how to implement the peace agreement (Voix du Sahel Network 29 Mar. 1995; ibid. 30 Mar. 1995; RFI 24 Apr. 1995; ibid. 30 Mar. 1995; ibid. 14 Oct. 1995; Africa No. 1 3 July 1995; ARB 23 Aug. 1995, 11924). In March 1995 a new Tuareg group, the Organisation de la Resistance Armée (ORA), was formed; this organization subsequently signed the peace agreement with the government in April 1995 (Voix du Sahel Network 30 Mar. 1995; RFI 30 Mar. 1995).

AFP reported in July 1995 that Mano Dayak had reconstituted the Coordination of the Armed Resistance (CRA), which had been replaced by the ORA (21 July 1995). According to AFP and Africa No. 1, Dayak did not consider himself bound by the peace accord ORA signed with the government in April 1995 (ibid.; Africa No. 1 3 July 1995).

In December 1995 AFP and Jeune Afrique reported that Dyak died in an airplane crash, prompting speculation on whether the death was an accident or a murder (AFP 15 Dec. 1995; Jeune Afrique 21 Dec. 1995-6 Jan. 1996, 6-7).

For additional information, please consult the attachments which have been arranged into the following categories: Tuareg Divisions; Peace Agreement; Armed Conflict; and General.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Africa No. 1 [Libreville, in French]. 5 December 1995. "Government, Tuareg Rebellion Resume Peace Talks." (FBIS-AFR-95-235 7 Dec. 1995, p. 22)

_____. 25 July 1995. "Government Releases 'All' Former Tuareg Rebels." (FBIS-AFR-95-143 26 July 1995, p. 13)

_____. 3 July 1995. "Tuareg Leader Killed; Dayak Leaves Movement." (FBIS-AFR-95-130 7 July 1995, p. 13)

_____. 9 October 1994. "Niger Government, Tuareg Rebels Sign Agreement." (FBIS-AFR-94-196 11 Oct. 1994, pp. 13-14)

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 23 November 1995. Vol. 32, No. 10. "Niger."

_____. 23 August 1995. Vol. 32, No. 6. "Niger: Touareg Leader Killed."

_____. 23 May 1995. Vol. 32, No. 4. "Niger: Peace Agreement."

_____. 24 November 1994. Vol. 31, No. 10. "Touareg Rebellion: Ouagadougou Agreement."

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in French]. 15 December 1995. "Tuareg Leader Dayak Killed in Airplane Explosion." (FBIS-AFR-95-242 18 Dec. 1995, p. 12)

_____. 27 November 1995. "Army, Tuareg Rebels Clash in Tahoua." (FBIS-AFR-95-231 1 Dec. 1995, p. 11)

_____ [Paris, in English]. 12 October 1995. "Rebel Leader Reports New Clashes in Northeast." (FBIS-AFR-95-198 13 Oct. 1995, pp. 11-12)

_____. 21 July 1995. "Tuareg Rebel Movements Form New Coordination." (FBIS-AFR-95-141 24 July 1995, p. 21)

_____. 2 July 1995. "'Over 15' Tuaregs Killed in Clashes with Arabs." (FBIS-AFR-95-127 3 July 1995, p. 13)

_____. 15 April 1995. "Government, Tuareg Rebels Sign Peace Accord." (FBIS-AFR-95-073 17 Apr. 1995, p. 11)

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 21 December 1995-6 January 1996. Henri Vernet. "Niger: Mano Dayak: Accident ou Attentat?"

Radiodiffusion Nationale du Burkina Radio [Ouagadougou, in French]. 15 April 1995. "Highlights of Agreement Reported." (FBIS-AFR-95-073 17 Apr. 1995, p. 11)

Radio France International (RFI) [Paris, in French]. 14 October 1995. "Resistance Spokesman Criticizes Rebel Divisions." (FBIS-AFR-95-200 17 Oct. 1995, p. 14)

_____. 30 March 1995. "Tuareg Leader on ORA's Aims." (FBIS-AFR-95-065 5 Apr. 1995, p. 13)

_____. 24 April 1995. "Conflict Surges Among Tuaregs." (FBIS-AFR-95-079 25 Apr. 1995, pp. 25-26)

Voix du Sahel Network [Niamey, in French]. 24 April 1995. "Tuareg, Government Peace Accord Signed." (FBIS-AFR-95-079 25 Apr. 1995, p. 25)

_____. 30 March 1995. "Armed Rebel Movements Form New Organization." (FBIS-AFR-95-065 5 Apr. 1995, p. 13)

_____. 29 March 1995. "Tuareg Leader Explains Reasons for Split." (FBIS-AFR-95-060 29 Mar. 1995, p. 15)

Attachments


Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 23 November 1995. Vol. 32, No. 10. "Niger," p. 12030.

_____. 23 August 1995. Vol. 32, No. 7. "Niger: Touareg Leader Killed," pp. 11924-25.

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in French]. 27 November 1995. "Army, Tuareg Rebels Clash in Tahoua." (FBIS-AFR-95-231 1 Dec. 1995, p. 11)

_____ [Paris, in English]. 12 October 1995. "Rebel Leader Reports New Clashes in Northeast." (FBIS-AFR-95-198 13 Oct. 1995, pp. 11-12)

_____. 2 July 1995. "'Over 15' Tuaregs Killed in Clashes with Arabs." (FBIS-AFR-95-127 3 July 1995, p. 13)

General


Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in French]. 16 December 1995. "Government Confirms Dayak's Death." (FBIS-AFR-95-242 18 Dec. 1995, p. 12)

_____. 15 December 1995. "Tuareg Leader Dayak Killed in Airplane Explosion." (FBIS-AFR-95-242 18 Dec. 1995, p. 12)

_____. 15 December 1995. "Plane on 'Secret Mission' in North." (FBIS-AFR-95-242 18 Dec. 1995, p. 12)

Jenue Afrique [Paris]. 21 December 1995-6 January 1996. Henri Vernet. "Niger: Mano Dayak: Accident ou Attentat?," pp. 6-7.

Le Monde diplomatique [Paris]. April 1995. Philippe Baqué. "Fragile Niger," p. 31.

Peace Agreement


Africa No. 1 [Libreville, in French]. 5 December 1995. "Government, Tuareg Rebellion Resume Peace Talks." (FBIS-AFR-95-235 7 Dec. 1995, p. 22)

_____. 25 July 1995. "Government Releases 'All' Former Tuareg Rebels." (FBIS-AFR-95-143 26 July 1995, p. 13)

_____. 9 October 1994. "Niger Government, Tuareg Rebels Sign Agreement." (FBIS-AFR-94-196 11 Oct. 1994, pp. 13-14)

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 23 July 1995. Vol. 32, No. 5. "Niger: Amnesty for Rebels," p. 11892.

_____. 23 May 1995. Vol. 32, No. 4. "Niger: Peace Agreement," pp. 11830-31.

_____. 24 November 1994. Vol. 31, No. 10. "Touareg Rebellion: Ouagadougou Agreement," pp. 11599-601.

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in French]. 8 September 1995. "Former Rebels Threaten to 'Take Up Arms Again'." (FBIS-AFR-95-175 11 Sept. 1995, p. 26)

_____ [Paris, in English]. 5 June 1995. "Tuaregs Accuse Niamey of Violating Peace Treaty." (FBIS-AFR-95-108 6 June 1995, p. 26)

_____. 15 April 1995. "Government, Tuareg Rebels Sign Peace Accord." (FBIS-AFR-95-073 17 Apr. 1995, p. 11)

Radio France International (RFI) [Paris, in French]. 25 April 1995. "Tuareg, Government Officials Interviewed." (FBIS-AFR-95-081 27 Apr. 1995, pp. 26-27)

_____. 16 April 1995. "Tuareg Leader Discusses Provisions." (FBIS-AFR-95-073 17 Apr. 1995, pp. 11-12)

Voix du Sahel Network [Niamey, in French]. 8 December 1995. "Government, ORA Issue Communique on Peace Process." (FBIS-AFR-95-240 14 Dec. 1995, p. 11)

_____. 28 November 1995. "Government Comments on Suspension." (FBIS-AFR-95-231 1 Dec. 1995, p. 12)

_____. 27 November 1995. "ORA Blames Army for Peace Process Suspension." (FBIS-AFR-95-231 1 Dec. 1995, p. 11)

Tuareg Divisions


Africa No. 1 [Libreville, in French]. 3 July 1995. "Tuareg Leader Killed; Dayak Leaves Movement." (FBIS-AFR-95-130 7 July 1995, p. 13)

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in French]. 21 July 1995. "Tuareg Rebel Movements Form New Coordination." (FBIS-AFR-95-141 24 July 1995, p. 21)

Radio France International (RFI) [Paris, in French]. 14 October 1995. "Resistance Spokesman Criticizes Rebel Divisions." (FBIS-AFR-95-200 17 Oct. 1995, p. 14)

_____. 24 April 1995. "Conflict Surges Among Tuaregs." (FBIS-AFR-95-079 25 Apr. 1995, pp. 25-26)

_____. 30 March 1995. "Tuareg Leader on ORA's Aims." (FBIS-AFR-95-065 5 Apr. 1995, p. 13)

Voix du Sahel Network [Niamey, in French]. 30 March 1995. "Armed Rebel Movements Form New Organization." (FBIS-AFR-95-065 5 Apr. 1995, p. 13)

_____. 29 March 1995. "Tuareg Leader Explains Reasons for Split." (FBIS-AFR-95-060 29 Mar. 1995, p. 15)