The rights of the indigenous peoples to self determination: attempts to address the violation of human rights with specific reference to Mali

Abstract

The Kel Tamachek and Hassanya are nomadic people who live in Sahel‐Sahara but some of them have become semi‐nomad or sedentary throughout the time. Since the independence they were divided in five countries. In Mali they occupy the 75% with 932 490 sqm of the territory which is 1 241 238 sqm5 and 10% of the population’s 13 millions.6 Their area is the north Mali which is administratively divided in three regions: Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal called also respectively the 6th region, 7th region and 8th region. They share the area with other ethnic groups such as Fulbe which are nomadic peoples and indigenous peoples and the Songhai or Sonrhai, Sorko and Bambara. The Kel Tamachek as other indigenous peoples of the world were discriminated and marginalized which started since the colonization. The colonizers tried to exterminate them because of their resistance and their refusal to be dominated and assimilated. The Frenchmen after establishing their power on the colonies started to ‘civilize’ their subjects. However, the nomads were forgotten in these programs because no school was created in their area. And when an exceptional leader Mohamed Ali Ag Attaher Alansary11understood that the best arm for combating the colonizers was to learn their knowledge which will ensure also the success for the future.