Islamists’ Flag Now Flies Over Mali City of Timbuktu
- Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:30am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
Coup leader Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo, center, is accompanied by Burkina Faso Foreign Affairs Minister Djibril Bassole, left, as he addresses the press at junta headquarters in Kati, outside Bamako, Mali Sunday, April 1, 2012. The leader of Mali's recent coup says he is reinstating the nation's previous constitution amid international pressure to restore constitutional order. Sanogo said a national convention would be held to organize elections, but he failed to announce a timeline for the elections. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Residents said on Monday that the ominous black flag of an Islamist rebel faction is now flying over Mali’s fabled city of Timbuktu, which over the weekend became the last major government stronghold in the country’s north to fall to the rebel advance.
The news is a worrying development for Mali, where Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos sparked by a coup in the distant capital of Bamako late last month to claim the three largest northern towns, including Timbuktu.
Early Monday, a member of the military who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said that he saw a 10-car convoy carrying the rebel Ansar Dine enter the ancient city, located over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Bamako. They drove to the Cheikh Fort Sidi Elbakaye military camp in Timbuktu, where they planted their black flag.
The rebellion includes an amalgam of Tuareg groups, including a secular faction and an Islamist wing. In Kidal and Gao, the Islamist faction took the lead early on, and shopkeepers reported that the rebels went from business to business telling merchants to take down pictures deemed un-Islamic. A hairdresser said he was made to take down the photographs he had put up showing different hairstyles because the images showed uncovered women.
On Sunday when the rebels first entered the fabled city of Timbuktu, they were led by the secular National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad, or NMLA, which is fighting for an independent homeland for the traditionally nomadic Tuareg people. Their convoy carrying the NMLA flag was seen speeding into town. The arrival of Ansar Dine, the Tuareg Islamist faction, is deeply disturbing to the residents of this city that was once a Lonely Planet hotspot and where much of the economy was based on tourism.
In Gao, the largest city in the north which fell to the amalgam of rebel groups on Saturday, residents said that they no longer know who is in charge.
“In Gao, its chaos. We don’t even know who controls the city, and who is doing what,” said student Ahmed Ould Fneiny. “We see Ansar Dine with their flag. We see the MNLA. We are seeing other Tuareg and Arab groups which deserted from the Malian army. There are people in military uniforms who have stolen all the cars, even the private cars of civilians. We can’t leave the city. One liter of gasoline is now 1,000 francs ($2) whereas it was 650 francs ($1.3) yesterday.”
The rebellion began in January, after Tuareg fighters who had been on the payroll of ex-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi returned to Mali, bristling with arms. For the first two months, the insurgency advanced into the remote north, taking a dozen small towns, but failing to capture any of the major population centers.
The rebels have been able to take advantage of the power vacuum that was created on March 21, when a military coup in Bamako toppled the country’s democratically elected leader. As the military junta controlling the south of the country negotiates with regional powers, who are threatening sanctions, the rebels pushed forward, encircling Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu – cities that had never fallen in previous rebellions.
Comments (26)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 697 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 529 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 355 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 355 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 355 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 270 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Sdegan
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:34pmWhy are we surprised. Islam has been coddled and tolerated for far too long, and it will grow unless it is revealed for what it is. http://conjectureandconsequence.wordpress.com/tag/islam/
http://conjectureandconsequence.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/middle-east-turmoil-and-liberal-catharsis/
Report Post »Rawtheran
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:56pmThe Muslims are taking over everything, how long now before we see another caliphate established?
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 5:38pmThe slave trade will again prosper, just watch! mohommedism strikes again!
Report Post »nceagle
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:28pmAfter the coup, “gasoline went from $1.30 to $2″. So if that was the result of a coup there, what happened when our gasoline went from $1.80 to $4 a gallon here? If we just round our gas price to $5 a gallon, we won’t have to worry about any change that might be coming….
Report Post »db321
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 4:23pmObama is glad and African Citizens will soon be very sad – if they think it was bad before – just give it a couple of months. Keep an eye America – a Muslim Flag will soon fly over every State in America except Texas – Texan will never tolerate this – other States think Obama is great!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 4:37pm@DB…
Report Post »Now, there is an improbable Fight: the Mexicans against the Muslims :)
COFemale
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:05pmWho? Where? Why do I care?
I can’t save every idiot group in the world. I need to worry about myself first and the path of the United States.
They made their bed, now they can lie in it.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:50amTimbuktu and bum-phugged Egypt have a lot in common these days…
Report Post »qzak491
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:25am.
Report Post »This just shows that capitalism is good. If these idiots had real jobs they wouldn’t have time for this crap. Kinda sounds like osama and biden, they have no real job so they have time to destroy the ones that do.
13axes
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:46amsuch a mastermind at international affairs this Harvard scholar,bet he gives himself an A- or higher,but……, shouldn’t we hear from the governors,senators,and congressman of states 51-57 before we can completely judge his foreign policy,up until now i think he is a total failure,but maybe one of these officials can persuade me otherwise
Report Post »Watchyer6
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:42amThe global jihad continues.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:38amIf I was African American, I would thank God every day for slavery. Without it, I would be trying to survive in that hell hole of Africa.
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 12:51pmYou look like my daddy. Last time I saw him, he was in Georgia.
Report Post »vic138
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:32amGlad I already have my Timbuktu stamp in my passport. Guess that will be a thing of the past. Mali’s only source of income is tourism. Now they will be ahead of niger as the poorest country in west africa.
Report Post »HawkEyeTx
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:27am#
Report Post »Hey, now there’s some Mulsim bad guys in uniform. So now we can ID the enemy….go get them.
zoro51
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:26amyet another nation fallen to a CULT OF HATE N DEATH. murdering MUSLUMS kill whom ever they dont CARE whom it is now another nation of killers oh joy… there IS no god called allah its a FASLE STONE IDOL they worship n USE to justify thier murderious actions…
Report Post »drago
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:25amI care not about a people, who have never done more than throw spears and scratch their asses,and contribute nothing to the rest of the world,and suck up more free food and give nothing in return…
Report Post »Natives of Africa are just as useless today as they were a thousand years ago,and still think and live as if it were that long ago…..
Vickie Dhaene
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:26amHow pathetic are you not to care about another Human Being. I pray to God that you don’t find yourself in The Wilderness alone. I believe that every life has a purpose while on earth, even yours Drago.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:23amTown by town, country by country Islam is taking over and destroying everything good in every place they conquer. This evil cult needs to be destroyed, eradicated, from the face of the earth but I am afraid it is much too late.
Humanity is at a crossroad, turn back to God or lose everything, even America to the jihadists.
If you have not been to Atlasshrugs.com today you should visit that site.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:15amInfestation
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:13amIt’s economics. In the 60s and 70s if you claimed to be a marxist, the Soviets sent weapons and money. If said you’re anti-communist, we’d send the guns and money. Now just say you’re an “Islamist,” and some Saudi prince will send you millions.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:10amSigh. What is wrong with The Blaze? Seriously. You guys continue to spread misinformation and distortion that only serves to advance the Jihad.
There is no such thing as these “Islamists” you keep talking about. They are as real as Unicorns. Stop using inaccurate language. Please.
They are muslims engaged in Jihad. Islam is spread through the mechanic of Jihad. Islam is the single greatest threat this planet has eve seen. How many countries need to fall to Jihad right before your eyes, The Blaze, before you begin to dispense with the flowery language?
We will never win against Jihad if the media refuses to name the enemy: Muslims engaged in Jihad.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:09am.
Report Post »The Islamist Booty Scratchers are taking over Africa, Oh My!!!!!…….
RougeFastFingers
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:00amI’m sure Hillary will tell us all about the central african spring soon.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:59amSomebody take it down!
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:58amIs Nigeria next?
Report Post »