| | The Sahel has received more than its usually fairly small share of the world's news coverage over the last few months. Three 'news stories' in particular have made the headlines: the Tuareg 'rebellion' at Kidal in Mali on 23 May 2006; the hostage-taking of Italian tourists around the Niger-Chad border area on 21 August and a gun battle between Malian Tuareg rebels and GSPC (Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat) 'terrorists' in northern Mali on 27 September. Some reports claim this battle to have been a fight between GSPC factions for control of the GSPC in the Sahara, following the reported capture and incarceration of the alleged GSPC leader, El Para, in June 2005. |
