Azawad is Free!

[Loddfafner]

Touareg rebels have taken over Timbuktu and declared independence of Azawad from Mali.

http://www.mnlamov.net/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17635437
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa...412359539.html

Touaregs are the desert tribesmen known for making their men wear veils instead of the women. Poor Mary must be confused at that. The cloth of the veils is blue, which rubs off on their face so they are sometimes known as the Blue Men. They are also known for an obscure alphabet influenced by ancient Phoenicians in Libya.

Timbuktu is a city best known for its obscurity. It was a center of African learning in the middle ages and so is the best hope of Afrocentrists who wistfully hope that African Medieval learning is not some ultimate oxymoron.

The rebels were able to take over because some dumbass soldier overthrew the government, complaining that they were not doing enough against the rebels but of course the coup generated enough chaos for the rebels to make their final advances. Weaponry left over from Libya certainly helped. Global strategists are probably nervous about the affiliation of one of the main rebel factions with alQaida.

I just want their postage stamps.

[The Lawspeaker]

Wow.. wait.. where ? So there is now an actual Touareg nation ? That's good news.. although: how long will it take before they are crushed and branded as "terrorists" by the international community ?