MALI: Scarce resources and modern times force Mali's traditional nomads to change their ways

Record ID: 453237

  • Title: MALI: Scarce resources and modern times force Mali's traditional nomads to change their ways
  • Date: 9th January 2007
  • Summary: (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND MEN SINGING AND DANCING BY CAMP FIRE
  • Embargoed: 24th January 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mali
  • Country: Mali
  • Topics: Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA7M51AWBQQ0V2T2NY37QZVK8PQ
  • Story Text: For hundreds of years, the vast desert lands of North Western Africa, have been dominated by the Touareg - a proud nomadic people whose ancestral lands were split between Mali, Niger, Algeria and Libya by the colonial curve up of the continent.
    Traditionally, they traded goods across the desert and moved with the seasons, finding water and grazing for their livestock. But it's getting harder and harder for them to preserve their lifestyle.
    "We are hungry and we're always having to move. Our animals are all dying and there aren't many left. That's why we have to keep moving," said an unidentified Touareg nomad.
    These Touareg livestock owners live in Kidal, one of Mali's poorest regions. It's bigger than Ghana and is home to about 85,000 people, of whom 70,000 are Touareg.
    "There isn't even one centimetre of tarmac here. There's no hospital. In 260,000 square kilometres there isn't even a single hospital. We are in the 21st century and there's still thirst here, thirst is killing us. We don't have enough schools in the region. In the whole region, how many schools are there? Just one. 260,000 square kilometres and one school. Is that normal? And 70% of our young people are unemployed," explained Abdul Salam Ag Al-Salaad a local trade representative.
    In the early 90's, a Touareg rebellion broke out in northern Mali, that saw tens of thousands of people flee into neighbouring Mauritania and Algeria.
    Kidal, the seat of the uprising has largely been quiet since peace deals secured an end to the violence. But in May last year, discontented Touareg rebels attacked army camps in the town stealing weapons and munitions.
    The region of Kidal was created in the 1991 peace accord that ended the rebellion, which also promised development and more local power.
    In 2005, the government started a project here that finances small businesses like this garage to take on apprentices.
    Oumar Ouattara is now training 8 people under the programme, but he's worried that more financial support is needed if any of his trainees are going to become properly qualified mechanics.
    "When an apprentice does 2 or 3 years, he can find a job. But they're leaving, they don't want to stay because they're in a hurry to earn money," he told us, speaking at his garage.
    The government also tried to improve access to education by building this school five years ago in Takalo, 45 kilometres away from Kidal.
    Nomads used to come here for water and seasonal pastures, but these days, there's no more water here and the Touareg have stayed away - and so have the pupils.
    "You can see for yourself that this school isn't adapted. For nomads, one day they're here, the next they're somewhere else. If the children are going to stay at school, you have to try to put them in a very good environment," said headmaster Sadek Adik Kalou
    500 kilometres Southwest of Kidal, lies Northern Mali's biggest city: Timbuktu. Since the rebellion ended, many Touareg have come to settle here; to send their children to school and to try and make a living from tourism instead of their livestock.
    About 8000 people come to Timbuktu every year, and in the three-month tourist season, Touareg traders try to sell their traditionally crafted jewellery.
    In much of the region north of Timbuktu, security remains an issue.
    The US military has been training armies in countries around the Sahara including Mali, to better police the desert.
    There are fears that terrorist groups could take refuge here; in part because the GSPC or Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which fought to overthrow the Algerian government for years, has links to Al Qaeda and is now using the desert to recruit and train.
    "When you are in a zone like this, you have to constantly bear in mind that you could have enemies, especially Islamic groups who are dispersed all over the place," said Captain Lassine Keita of the Mali Infantry.
    The local Touareg population are keen for better security and would like their intimate knowledge of the region to be used more in the fight against armed groups.
    Closer to Timbuktu, a nomadic Touareg family break camp and settle down for the night.
    The Touareg aren't the first or the last nomadic community in Africa to find their livelihood and traditions threatened by a changing climate, modernisation and the decisions of faraway governments.
    But many are still determined to pass the rich culture and free spirit that they've inherited from their ancestors on to their children - even if every new generation will have to find its own ways of adapting to a fast-changing world.
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