Excerpts from the speech of Mr. Bilal Ag Cherif, President of the Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP). Today, September 4, 2024.
My dear compatriots,
I address you with infinite gratitude for the courage and resilience that you demonstrate every day in the face of the attacks and injustices that overwhelm us. You have embodied the dignity and strength that are at the very heart of our struggle for Azawad.
We must understand that true peace is impossible as long as the question of Azawad remains unresolved. Peace cannot be built on compromises that betray our legitimate quest for recognition and justice.
The agreements made between certain States and international companies with the putschists, without our consent, can only lead to failure. These agreements are nothing but mirages, incapable of satisfying our true aspirations. They can offer neither stability nor prosperity.
We are deeply dismayed by the complicit silence of neighboring nations, the African Union, the World Islamic Organization, human rights organizations, and even the UN. This silence in the face of the horrors inflicted on our people seems to suggest that our pain is being ignored. We call on the world to open its eyes to the carefully orchestrated ethnic cleansing by the junta in Bamako against our people.
We must also be clear: there will be no peace as long as this regime remains in place. It is clear that our only path is the struggle to defend our rights and our existence. The junta in Bamako is carrying out a sinister project of demographic replacement, aimed at erasing our people from their own land. We cannot remain passive in the face of this threat.
I make a vibrant appeal to all Azawadians – tribal leaders, religious leaders, intellectuals, journalists – to rally around the Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP_DPA). Let us join forces with renewed determination to protect our people and preserve our dignity.
It is outrageous that the salary of a mercenary of the Wagner militia exceeds that of a senior officer in the Malian army. This cruel injustice reveals a world where inhumanity seems to take precedence over the fundamental values of rights and dignity.
Since 1963 until today, successive regimes in Mali have systematically sought to crush our people when their power is strengthened. This persistent adversity demands from us unwavering resilience and struggle to safeguard our existence and our values.
Azawad is not simply a political issue; it is a historical cause, without expansionist aims. The borders of Azawad extend to the north of Mali, including Gao, Timbuktu, Taoudénit, Kidal and Ménaka. We remain firmly attached to our history and our land.
With determination and hope, I call on you to walk together towards our future, preserving our dignity and defending our cause with unwavering strength.
Long live free and independent Azawad!
*Excerpt from the speech of Mr. Billal AG Acharif, Secretary General in office of the Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP_DPA).
04-09-24
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