FILE PHOTO: In this file photo taken on July 18, 2011 Malian troops patrol on a pick-up car, three weeks after a military raid dislodged Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrab (AQIM) from its newly-built base in the Wagoudou forest. AFP / SERGE DANIEL
DAKAR: Some 1,500 rebels dropped their arms in Mali on Monday in a disarmament campaign led by the UN and government.
Zahabi Ould Sidi Mohamed, head of the country's national commission responsible for the disarmament, liquidation and reintegration (DDR) campaign, told local media that the campaign started on Nov. 6.
Mohamed el Maouloud Ramadane, coordinator of Azavad Movements (CMA), which was formed by Tuareg-dominated groups, confirmed the number given by the government.
Ramadane stated that there is hope of peace despite difficulties.
The disarmament campaign targets 34,000 armed group members operating in the north of the West African nation.
The deadline for dropping the arms is Nov. 30.
