The leader of the rebel Tuareg movement in Niger, has been arrested by the authorities there and accused of smuggling weapons . . .[restrict]and arms from Libya and having links to Al-Qaeda in North Africa.
Aghali Alambo, who headed the now disbanded “Niger for justice” movement, was closely involved with former Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi. It was Qaddafi who negotiated a settlement between Alambo and the Nigerien government two year ago following the 2009-2010 Tuareg rebellion in the country.
During the uprising last year significant number Tuareg joined the Qaddafi forces battling rebel brigades.
Niger’s Tuareg are said to have been involved in helping Saadi Qaddafi flee to Niger last September. They are also said to have helped Seif Al-Islam hide in southern Libya in preparation for being smuggled into Niger as well but he was caught before he could get away.
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