On July 16, Malian authorities met rebels in Algeria to discuss the peace process, which is supposed to lead the West African country towards a long-term security situation, and a plan to combat terrorism with international support.

Prior to the meeting, a prisoner swap took place where 42 Tuareg fighters and 45 troops from the government were released. Mali government officials announced that they were willing to push their limitations to come to an agreement. Still, Islamic militants occupy more areas including villages located in the center of the country, according to analysts.

Many citizens believe Mali’s current security situation is troublesome. Since late May, authorities have continued to fail at stopping the progress of Islamic militants.

The Dificulty of Peace Negotiations

“The government is negotiating in a difficult situation and people are very concerned by the authorities’ weakness,” Tiébilé Dramé, Mali’s former chief negotiator told AFKInsider. “Instead of attempts to stop the progress of those militants, a few days ago the authorities issued a press release about some movements of troops in the North.”

One year after French military intervention, which liberated two-thirds of the country from the jihadist movements that ruled in the North, Al-Qaeda related groups are coming back. Drame is blaming the new president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita for the degradation of the security situation of the country, given that he wasted time before discussing peace agreements with rebels.

Three months after he took power last September, President Keita was supposed to launch negotiations with the armed groups who accepted to renounce terrorism.

“He thought he was elected president of a normal country and forgot Mali is trying to recover from a war,” Drame, who replaced by another negotiator, said.

Dead French Soldiers

Now the Malian authorities — who lost several positions in the Northern regions of the country— need a peace agreement with the militias that are engaged in the peace process facilitated by Algeria.

According to political leader Younouss Hamèye Dicko, an agreement with the militias that abandoned terrorism will help the government and the international forces to combat the terrorist groups that are assaulting the regular forces.

July 15, a French soldier was killed in the North of Mali during a military operation against Islamic movements that are trying to take the control of the region. According to Dicko, the official end of French Serval Operation in the country was announced on July 16. An Associated Press report confirmed that French troops will be redeployed in an expanded mission.