who said land of the free because of the brave

Regarding the 'democracy' of the rebellion - there was no poll, no vote, and no consensus for the people in the North to decide that they wanted to form a country. There are plenty of differences in opinion and direction for Azawad, there is no central head of authority, and there is no clear concept of what Azawad will be. Who are the rebels? The rebels themselves, the fighters, are a combination of Tuareg with youthful half formed ideologies, simple bandits and profiteers raiding military stashes (stolen Kalashnikovs sell on the market for $800 - $1000), and fundamentalists of the local Al-Qaedi Franchise. Azawad is proclaimed as a state and a country by the MNLA, the rebellion party in name, but more like the PR department of the rebellion. Azawad now takes up as far as they can reach, covering Gao, Timbouctou, and around Mopti - all towns that are not Tuareg at all (the only Tuareg majority region is Kidal). Meanwhile, the rebels take advantage of this situation and general confusion to extend their war. This, coupled with the military, which is terribly under-trained and under-equipped sets the stage for a coup d'etat.

The more radical opposition accuses ATT of covertly orchestrating the rebellion to retain his power. But his opposition fears that he will use the rebellion in the North to extend his mandate and refuse to step down, as happened in Niger in 2010 and Senegal in 2012. And for awhile, it's just like the other rebellions - hit and run tactics, a few towns secured and captured, but then quickly abandoned.Īt the same time, the President ATT is finishing up his mandate. The rebels, now armed to the teeth, start the latest rebellion with the first attack in January. This time, the rebels launch a huge rebellion, larger than that of the 1990s, because of the fall of Khadaffi - Tuareg Khadaffi loyalists who had lived in Libya for years split for Mali with huge arsenals. It is just the latest in a series of rebellions that go back as far as 1963.

Who said land of the free because of the brave