Tinariwen, whose recent album 'Tassili' won a Grammy Award in the Best Album category last February, regrets to announce that one of its founder members, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, will be absent from the group's forthcoming spring tour of Europe.

Since the 17th of January, a violent conflict between the Malian army and the NMLA (National Movement for the Liberation of (the original tuareg lands which include the north of , part of the and , and south Ageria) has been raging in Northern Mali. More than 170,000 civilians have fled the fighting and have taken refuge either in the open desert around villages and settlements (these internally displaced people are experiencing a catastrophic lack of all basic necessities, especially around the villages of Aguel'hoc and Tessalit, where Ibrahim lives), or in neighbouring countries (Mauritania, , Niger and Burkina Faso). Due to this extreme humanitarian emergency, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib has taken the decision to stay with his family and loved ones and to help his people.

An emblematic figure among the 's Kel Tamashek community, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib has always supported the cause of the Touareg people. For the past ten years, thanks to over 900 concerts and five album releases, Tinariwen has been the voice of the "nomadic people of the desert" throughout the globe.

He will be joining the other members of Tinariwen on-stage to honour their collective role as spokespersons of the Tamashek people and culture, as soon as the situation allows him to do so.

TOUR DATES :

Mar 17 Muffatwerk Ampere - Munich, Germany

Mar 19 Apolo - Barcelona, Spain

Mar 20 Teatro Lara - Madrid, Spain

Mar 22 Dom Omldaine - Belgrade, Serbia

Mar 24 De Roma - Antwerp, Belgium

Mar 25 De Zwerver - Leffinge, Belgium

Mar 28 Le Fil - Saint Étienne, France

Mar 29 La Cartonnerie - Reims, France

Mar 30 La Rodia - Besancon, France

Mar 31 Le 106 - Rouen, France

Apr 03 La Cigale - Paris, France

Apr 05 Oran Mor - Glasgow, United Kingdom

Apr 06 Queens Hall - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Apr 07 Colston Hall - Bristol, United Kingdom

Apr 08 HMV Ritz - Manchester, United Kingdom

Apr 10 Birmingham HMV - Institute Birmingham, United Kingdom

Apr 11 Liverpool Philharmonic - Liverpool, United Kingdom

Apr 12 National Concert Hall - Dublin, Ireland

Apr 14 Hiroshima Mon Amour - Turin To, Italy

Apr 15 Alcatrz - Milan, Italy

Apr 16 Bronson - Ravenna, Italy

Apr 17 Auditorio - Rome, Italy

Apr 18 Flog Club - Florence, Italy

Apr 21 Kulturkirche - Cologne, Germany

Apr 23 Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark Apr 24 Voxhall - Århus C, Denmark

Apr 26 La Sirene - La Rochelle, France

Apr 27 Printemps de Bourges - Bourges, France

Apr 28 Festival Toucouleur - Angers, France

Apr 29 Aeronef - Lille, France

May 03 Shepherd's Bush Empire - London, United Kingdom