United States Supports Kidal Development Forum

US C-130 Lands In Kidal with Malian Prime Minister and Other Diplomat

On March 23, 2007, two United States Air Force Hercules C-130s transported Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi Maiga, other cabinent ministers and most of the international diplomatic corps to the northern town of Kidal to attend the March 23-24 Kidal Development Forum.  The two-day Forum marked the final phase of a peace agreement between Mali and the Tuareg rebels who attacked Malian military outposts in May 2006.  During the Forum the Malian government, international donor community and Tuareg leaders pledged to work together to ensure peace, security and development for Mali's three northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal.  Due to Kidal's remote location, members of the Malian government or international community would have been unable to attend the Forum without U.S. Air Force support.  By transporting the Malian delegation as well as Ambassadors from the United States, Canada, the European Union, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, France, Morocco, Palestine, China, South Africa, and Burkina Faso, the U.S. airlift suppotr assured the Forum's success.  The flight also underlined the United States' solid commitment to Mali and its people.