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RACE, STEREOTYPES AND POLITICS 107member of government, a certain Abdel Aziz Renchaïdane. The pilgrims hadresisted by beating Warninekh up, after which they got arrested by the Saudipolice. 90 Then there was a certain Mrs. Djamloul from Gao, who wanted to selltwo children to a Saudi.In the meantime, President Modibo Keita had written a formal letter to KingIbn Saud on the activities of Mohamed Ali ag Attaher Insar, Sidi Mohamed agZokka, and Marouchett ag Moussa, which was presented to his brother Nawaf,director of the Kings cabinet, by the Malian ambassador in Cairo, ModiboDiallo, on 18 May. Nawaf demanded a file on the complaints against these men,which Modibo Diallo wrote that same night. In turn, Mohamed Ali, Marouchettand Sidi Mohamed wrote a letter to the King asking for his protection. It is notclear how the king reacted formally to both the report and the letter, but none ofthe Tamasheq chiefs was extradited to Mali. However, Prince Faysal stoppedthe financial support that Mohamed Ali had until then received from the SaudiGovernment. Mohamed Ali left for Libya shortly after.Mohamed Ali is seriously hindered by the growing goodwill Mali holds in the Arabcountries. In these countries no one can organise any opposition to Mali any longer.The only option that he still has, is to write to the former tribal chiefs in Mali to sendhim a large number of Bellahs to sell. The average price of a slave is 25,000 Ryals,being 1,400,000 CFA francs. If we could have Mohamed Ali returned to Mali in oneway or another, I think that would clearly diminish the massive departure of Bellahs.91As for Marouchett ag Moussa and Sidi Mohamed ag Zokka, in a meetingwith Abdelwahab Doucouré Marouchett declared his motives and desires.When the chieftaincy was abolished they took my possessions and my lands to givethem to the Bellahs. I had the impression that the chef de poste avenged himself onus. I spoke of my troubles to President Mahamane, Madeira and Abdoulaye Dicko.They did nothing to improve the situation. If President Modibo assures me my landswill be given back to me and that I will not be humiliated in front of my brothers, Iswear I will come back to Mali without even passing through Mecca. Me, I have noneed for the pilgrimage. All the Tuareg think like me, they will all come. 92Marouchett was offered the possibility of return with his following, which hedid not immediately take up, but he would return soon after to be reinstalled asamenokal of the Tenguereguedesh and to rule that tribe until the early 1990s. Tocomplete the story, in 1962, King Ibn Saud was replaced by his brother Ab-909192Warninekh could either be an alias (meaning “I didn’t tell you”), or in fact aTamasheq slave name, which would mean that bellah were involved on both ends ofthe trade.Rapport sur le pélerinage 1961. Abdelwahab Doucouré. ANM – BPN104d398 Carton104 Dossier 398.Ibid.