DARLENE CASELLA: THE ROAD TO TIMBUKTU…..SEE NOTE
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/from-here-to-timbuktu
PLEASE READ AN UPDATE ABOUT SHARIA IN TIMBUKTU….RSK
Agatha Christie, DH Lawrence, and other authors have referenced Timbuktu. You may win final Jeopardy by knowing that it is not a mythical place. Founded by “The Blue People”, it sits on the Southern Edge of the Sahara Desert, in a region of Mali.
Babbles, Bangles and Beads, from the musical Kismet, would describe the opulence of 6th Century Timbuktu. World traders came to bazaars with everything from elephant tusks and crocodile skins to gold. By the 9th Century Timbuktu was considered the most powerful kingdom in West Africa.
King Musa I annexed Timbuktu when he was returning from Mecca on a pilgrimage in the 12th Century. Islam was solidified when the King constructed a royal palace and built the Muslim learning center Djinguereber Mosque in 1330. The great mosques, Sankore and Sidi Yahia, were built during that golden age. Under the Mali Empire and Askia Mohammad I’s rule, Timbuktu remained a world center of Islamic learning until the 17th century. Subsequently The Saadi ruler of Morocco, and numerous pashas, controlled the area; as trade flourished in gold, slaves, cloth, horses, and salt.
Europeans constantly failed in efforts to find the fabled city of Timbuktu, frequently dying in the perilous quest. The Paris Societe de Geographie offered a 10,000 franc prize to the first non Muslim to reach Timbuktu and return with information. In 1828 Rene Caillie, disguised as a Muslim, was able to claim the prize. In 1893 Timbuktu became part of the French Sudan. In World War II her legions fought under the command of General de Gaulle.
The Sudan became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. It was a dictatorship until 1991, when a military coup brought democratic rule. Democracy lasted until March 2012 when a military coup overthrew President Amadou Toumani Toure.
Nomadic Berbers, the Tuaregs, have led decades of rebellions for autonomy. Tuaregs are “The Blue People”, as their robes are dyed indigo. Following the March military coup in the south they led a rebellion with the National Movement for Liberation of Azawad; and captured the city of Gao on April 1, 2012.
A Declaration of Independence from Mali was delivered by Mossa Ag Attaher, on April 6th. He stated that the Nation of Azawad recognized all borders with neighboring states and pledged to create a democratic state based on the principles of the United Nations Charter; and requested that the international community immediately recognize the state. Azawad is a region bigger than France, with considerable oil reserves.
Mali has split into two nations, into a Tuareg-controlled north Azawad, and an interim president controlled south. Some fear that Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb rule in parts of the north.
The golden age of opulence and riches and scholarship of historic Timbuktu is gone. Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world with widespread food shortages and starvation. Women and children are in forced labor, sex trafficking, and domestic servitude; boys are forced to work in gold mines and subject to sex trafficking; and forced begging. There is debt bondage in the salt mines; and some are subjected to traditional slavery practices in involuntary servitude which extends to their not yet born children.
In response to the request for Azawad’s independence: the African Union rejected independence, Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said his country could not accept the break up, France rejected the Declaration, and Britain closed its embassy. The Economic Committee of Western African States offered to send troops to reinstate ousted President Amadou Toure. The general staffs of Algeria, Niger, Mauritania, will meet on May 6th to discuss the Mali situation. There have been no official statements from the USA, or the United Nations.
Lawlessness continues. The Algerian Consulate in Timbuktu was attacked and the black Salafist flag was flown. Consul staff members have been kidnapped. Islamist Ansar Dine claims his group is responsible. Tuareg Mossa Attaher fights Islamist rule and asks for international partnerships.
In the capital of Bamako, Dioncounda Traore was installed as Interim President for 40 days. He threatens total war on the Tuaregs and the Islamists. When he and coup leader and National Chairman Smadou Sanogo shook hands, there was a standing ovation. A subsequent assassination attempt on Dioncounda Traore caused him to leave the country.
The riches and mystery of Timbuktu have vanished. For Africa, all is not quiet on the Western Front.
PS On the Moroccan side of the Sahara I met “The Blue People”, nomadic desert Tuareg tribe’s . Their skin was an astoundingly beautiful deep blue black. At the time we thought that was why they were called the blue people. Famous for fighting abilities they are believed to be the original inhabitants of the Saharan interior.
Darlene Casella was, before her retirement, an English teacher, a stockbroker, and president/owner of a small corporation. She lives with her husband in La Quinta, California, and can be reached at thedeadseawest@aol.com.
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