Hope you’re well. I’m sorry it took me a while to post your comment about me being an opportunist and MNLA propagandist up on my website. I was waiting for an opportunity to talk to Vieux Fark and Toumani and see whether they really had said these things to you. i finally managed to speak to both of them in the last few weeks. Neither of them remembered saying anything of the kind to you and denied calling me an opportunist.

So I’m afraid that your comment is innacurate, well according to Vieux and Touamni in any case.

And just to clear things up…my views about the MNLA are very mixed. I believe that any honest reading of my writings on what’s happened in northern Mali, especially those that I have posted in the last year, will prove that.

And as for being an opportunist…well, freelance writing is all about seizing opportunities. I’m sorry that you disapprove of that.

I hope this mail expresses no ill feeling because I don’t feel any towards you. You are most welcome to your opinions.

I wish you well, Andy.

Saw Tamikrest at Leeds gig at Howard Assembly Room on friday – absolutely excellent, sound was great and audience dancing in the aisles!!! 5 star!!