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REVOLUTION: TESHUMARA AND TANEKRA 233other clans and federations accelerated, although many Kel Adagh ignored this‘external’ recruitment. Sallah, who I cited above, for example, would leave themovement before rebellion broke out, as he was against the idea that the movementwould fight for Tamasheq independence only, and not for all the peoplesin Northern Mali. 84 Exclusion went even so far that very few former slavesjoined the movement. This exclusion is largely explained by fear of betrayal.The consequences of this exclusivity would become apparent during the rebellionand after, when the rebels could not count on support from outside theirown networks.The members of the Tanekra soon felt they lacked forms of education thatcould help them in analysing the social-political situation the Tamasheq worldfound itself in. They also felt a lack of educated members who could further themovement’s cause. Primarily directed towards action, the movement felt a needfor ‘politicians’. Therefore, Tanekra members sought contacts with those whowere educated, the évolués. In the first instance these were sought among theKel Intessar pupils of Mohamed Ali ag Attaher Insar, who had been enrolled inthe Libyan educational system in the 1940s and 1950s. A number of these stillresided in Libya. However, they refused to join the movement for fear of losingtheir privileged positions within Libyan society. A number of Kel Tamasheqwho had been educated in Mali and in Algeria did join the movement. Thesemen were involved in contacts with the Algerian and Libyan authorities and,later, in the peace negotiations with the Malian state. Some of them, like Abderrahmaneag Galla, Cheick ag Bay, Ibrahim ag Litny, and Acherif ag Mohamedwould become influential leaders of the movement.In late May 1976, a second meeting was organised in the Algerian town ofAdrar. At this meeting a name for the movement was established: Mouvementde Libération de l’Azawad. The Azawad is a wide valley formed by two largewadis, the Azawad and Azawagh, which flow between the Adagh and the AirMountains on the northeast bank of the river Niger, in which they end. Notwithout coincidence, the ishumar saw this valley, stretching over the borderbetween Mali and Niger, as the heartland of the Kel Tamasheq. By extension,Azawad became synonymous to akal n temust, the Kel Tamasheq homeland.The name Azawad can be found in the names of practically all the rebelmovements that came into existence after the outbreak of rebellion in Mali andNiger, even when they were not based in the Azawad. The choice for Azawadover, for example, temust (people, nation) indicates that the movement,although then still dominated by the Kel Adagh, sought to incorporate other KelTamasheq. The name chosen is also an indication that the Tanekra hadincorporated the territorial thinking of a state in its outlook on independence.84Interview with Mohamed Sallah ag Mohamed. Bamako, 18/01/1998.