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CREATING MALI 49arrival he organised a little manifestation, bringing together a number of supportersunder a banner sporting “Long live the French Sahara”. Then, received in audience,together with two Berabish leaders, he presented the wish of the Saharans to begiven an exceptional status [statut particulier], and the next day he tried to offer,without success by the way, a petition demanding the inclusion of Timbuktu in theSahara. Without taking such outspoken positions, the chiefs confer on the representationof the Saharan regions in the OCRS Commission. 71In December that same year, the Qadi could again explain his vision to avisitor to Timbuktu: AOF High Commissioner (formerly known as the GovernorGeneral), Gaston Cusin. 72 Clearly, Mohamed Mahmoud was not actingalone. First, he had the help of his brother Sidi Boubakar ould Cheick and hissupporters. Then there were French officers who hoped to use the Qadi as thespokesman in a military strategy to unite what was referred to as the ‘SaharanBlock’ – the Kel Tamasheq and Bidân – against both the nationalist forces ofAlgeria and the African political resistance against the OCRS as a politicalterritory. Second, the Ministry of Saharan Affairs, which was still contestedinternally by the Ministry of Overseas Territories, and externally by the Africanpoliticians, welcomed the Qadi’s actions too. All signatories of the Qadi’s petitionreceived a letter of receipt from the Minister of Saharan Affairs. 73 Thatthese different services were at odds with each other becomes clear from acorrespondence from the AOF High Commissioner Pierre Messmer. In reply toinquiries on the Qadi’s activities by Madeira Keita, then Minister of the Interiorof the Soudanese Republic, Messmer indicated that the Qadi could sometimestravel by military airplane.Minister, (…) The inconveniences of this person’s activities and the facilities thathave been accorded to him by certain authorities have not escaped me. Thus, havinglearned that during his last stay in Paris, Mohamed Mahmoud conspired to obtaintransport to Timbuktu by military aeroplane, I have intervened at the department,which managed to abort his project. 7471727374Territoire du Soudan Français, Cercle de Goundam. Bulletin mensuel de renseignements,Septembre 1957. ACG. The ‘minister’ in this quote is likely to be MadeiraKeita, although the text implies Modibo Keita.Rapports politiques et tournées Cercle Tombouctou 1943-1957. Rapport politiquemensuel Décembre 1957. ANM – FR 1E-42/II.Lettre de Ministre des Affaires sahariens Max Lejeune à Matta ag Mamma, chef desKel Intessar. 11 December 1957. Handsigned by Lejeune. AMSAT – Dossier 35 –OCRS 1957-1962.Haute Commissaire de l’AOF Pierre Messmer à Ministre de l'Intérieur de laRépublique Soudanaise Madeira Keita. Dakar, 3 Octobre 1958. AMSAT – Dossier35 – OCRS 1957-1962.