Manipulated, the Touaregs in Search for a Way Forward
The North Africa Journal | By Arezki Daoud | A dignified Berber population, the Touaregs often consider themselves as free nomadic pastoralist people and want to remain so. For decades, they have resisted pressure from various governments to force them to settle. But their refusal to do so led to retaliations in form of social segregation and economic "starvation." Vulnerable, the Touaregs have also become the toys of ruthless politicians and governments in the regions who have been using them to settle scores against one another.
The most notorious manipulator of the Touaregs is no doubt the former Libyan dictator Muamar Gaddafi, who for decades promoted the idea of a Touareg Kingdom. Such initiative was meant to foment rebellions in the Sahara/Sahel in an effort to undermine neighboring nations and propel himself into a greater leadership role. Such initiative culminated in 2005 in Timbuktu when Gaddafi and some Touareg chiefs agreed on the creation of the Greater Sahara Federation to the dismay of neighboring nations. Gaddafi's fall simply means the end of such unreachable dream while the fate of the Touaregs remains highly uncertain.
The use and manipulation of the Touareg tribes has never been so clearer than during the civil war that brought the Gaddafi regime down. As many sided with him with the promise of a $6,000/month payout, the anti-Touareg lobbyists in Mali and Niger are working overtime to further weaken their Touareg populations that have long suffered from economic and social exclusion. The fall of Gaddafi while welcomed by all, does not necessary bode well for the Touaregs in Mali and Niger, in particular, as we expect retaliations to add more fuel to the state of crisis affecting the region.
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Comments (1 posted):
They are native people too.
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