Mali - June 16th, 2014

Three armed groups in Northern Mali, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the High Council for the Uivty of Azawad (HCUA) and the Arab Movement of Aazawad (MAA), all signed the Algiers Declaration on Sunday, agreeing to begin peace talks with the government. The Northern part of Mali has been struggling since 2003 against al-Qaeda's North African branches as well as Tuareg separatists after a military coup in 2012. France intervened in January 2013 to help drive armed forces away and now the UN is calling for immediate cease-fire and negotiations for peace in the region. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/06/mali-armed-groups-accept-dialogue-plan-201461665056176698.html