2 killed in northern Mali protest

By Mohamed Ag Ahmedou

GAO, Mali (AA) - Two people were killed and 12 injured in protests in northern Mali on Tuesday, the military said.

The demonstrations in Gao, the largest city in the country’s north, against the installation of interim authorities across the region turned into a violent confrontation with the army, Abderahmane Souleymane, a military officer, told Anadolu Agency.

The protest organized by civil society groups had been barred by the local authority due to security reasons.

The protesters claim they are not represented in fresh local authorities that are being established under a 2015 peace deal between the government, pro-government armed groups and former Tuareg rebels.

The agreement envisages fresh interim authorities to decentralize the five regions of northern Mali.

Protesters claimed they were demonstrating peacefully when the army opened fire.

In 2012, a failed coup was followed by a Tuareg rebellion that allowed al-Qaeda-linked militants to take over the northern half of the country.