Quick facts on Mali:
Capital: Bamako
Official language: French
Ethnic groups: Mande (50%), Fula (17%), Voltaic (12%), Tuareg (10%), Songhai (6%), others (5%)
Independence: 1960, from France
Area: 1,240,192 km2
Population: 14.5 million persons
Religions: Islam (90%), Christianity (5%), indigenous religions (5%)
Natural resources: gold, uranium, phosphates, kaolinite, salt and limestone.
In order to understand the conflict, we have to go back to ethnic differences and thus the very Independence of the country, when there already was certain animosity in the Tuareg North. The violent secessionist attempts began in the early 90’s, but they never as successful as the rebellion of 2012. To summarize, the Tuareg want their independence, a thing that the Malian government is not willing to accept easily. But this is only the main overview.In January 2012 the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA) launched an offensive over Ménaka, followed by subsequent raids over Agelhok and Tessalit, all of them small towns in the North of the country. Opposite to previous rebellions, this time the Tuareg were equipped with heavy weaponry obtained from Libya, which led to a quick victory: the government’s forces were taken by surprise and easily defeated in all fronts. This rapid advance was supported by several Islamists groups, including Al-Qaeda.
By March, this failure fostered a coup-d’état in which the military officer Amado Sanogo overthrew the democratic government under the accusation that they were not able to handle the rebellion effectively. This coup has been “unanimously condemned” by the international community, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that announced an embargo on the country the 29th of March.
By early April, all the military objectives of the rebels had already been accomplished, and they called off their offensive. Soon after, the Islamists—calling for the Sharia law—and the Independentists began a fight over the State model to be implemented in the new-born country. This lead to several armed encounters, and by the end of November, most of the territory of Azawad was under the Islamist control. ECOWAS and the Malian government requested foreign intervention to help fight the rebellion, and in October 2012 the UN approved a French resolution for the intervention of an African-led force, and was approved by the Security Council in December.
In parallel, by December, the now displaced MNLA began peace talks with the Malian government and relinquished its previous goal of Azawadi independence in favor of a request for self-rule within Mali.
On the 11th January, the French military launched the Opération Serval, deploying 3,500 soldiers and intervening officially in the conflict, soon followed by other countries in varying troop number.
The African-led support mission is expected to have a budget of around 960 million dollars to keep on fighting Islamism in Mali.
Since, the Malian governmental troops have been steadily advancing Northwards, and by the 30th January they claimed to have conquered the last Islamist stronghold of Kidal.
With all the strategic towns under control and with the governmental troops rapidly advancing towards the border with Algeria, the end of the conflict seems near. But what will happen with Azawad after the peace arrives?
Timeline and main events:
1905 – Most of current Mali is under French colonization
1960 – Independence of Mali, Moibo Keïta wins the first elections and stablishes a one-party state.
1968 – Moussa Traoré’s coup overthrows Keïta.
1990 – First rebellion for the independence of Azawad by the Azawad People’s Movement. Peace treaties in 1991 and 1995.
1991 – The March Revolution overthrows Traoré’s dictatorship. New constitution and declaration of the democratic multi-party state.
2007 – Restarting of the hostilities.
2011 – Lybian Civil War facilitates inflow of weapons for the NMLA.
16th January 2012 – Tuareg secession leaded by the NMLA, beginning of the conflict, supported by the Islamist groups Ansar Dine and AQIM.
22nd March 2012 – Military coup by Amadou Sanogo.
5th April 2012 – Kidal, Gao, Timbuktu and Douetza have been taken by the rebels, who announce to have accomplished their goals and call off their offensive. Declaration of the Independent State of Azawad. Almost immediately after, the MNLA and the Islamists start fighting each other over the rule of the new State.
17th July 2012 – Most of the cities in Azawad are already controlled by the Islamists.
December 2012 – The NMLA realigns with the Malian government.
11th January 2013 – French intervention upon request of the Malian government.
30th January 2013 – All of the important towns under Islamist control have fallen to the strike to the Malian and French troops.
Facts on the conflict—Belligerents:
Malian state and allies: Mali, France, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). About 23,000 soldiers. Other supporting countries: Canada, USA, Chad, Burundi, Gabon, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, European Union.
The Independent State of Azawad: National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA), Islamic movement of Azawad. About 3,000 soldiers.
Islamist groups: Ansar Dine, Boko Haram, Ansar al-Sharia, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM), Movement of Oneness and Jihad in West Africa(MOJWA). Estimated in about 1,200-3,000 soldiers.
Displaced people:
Approximately 144,000 refugees abroad.
Around 230,000 internally displaced persons.
Sergio Rejado Albaina
MESPOM
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