Two rebel groups that seized northern Mali two months ago have agreed to merge and turn their territory into an Islamist state, both sides say.
The Tuareg MNLA, a secular rebel group, and the Islamist group Ansar Dine signed the deal in the town of Gao, spokespeople said.
Ansar Dine, which has ties to al-Qaeda, has already begun to impose Sharia law in some towns.
The groups took advantage of a coup in March to seize the territory.
Correspondents say the deal is yet another worrying development for Mali and may complicate efforts to stabilise the country.
By: Brant
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1 comment:
Primitive civil codes such as Sharia and Old testament were made for societies such as the one in northern Mali; unable to maintain elaborate police, courts, prisons.
Stoning and cutting limbs off is horrible, but it may actually be less ill-suited in the area than a corrupt pseudo-Napoleonic civil code with complicated Roman influences.
Besides; what happens in Africa largely stays in Africa, I guess this should be a no-issue to us.
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