Mali War

The Mali War is an ongoing conflict in West Africa that began in early 2012. It is a complex struggle involving different groups fighting for power, territory, and religious control. The conflict started with a Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali. The Tuareg are a nomadic people who had long felt marginalized by the central government. They argued that government policies crushed their traditional customs and social structures. They also felt that mining projects and climate change had harmed their pastoral lands.

At the heart of the early rebellion was the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, known as the MNLA. This was a secular-oriented group fighting for the independence of a region they called Azawad. To gain strength, the MNLA initially allied with several jihadist organizations. These included Ansar Dine, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MOJWA).

This alliance was temporary because the groups had very different visions for the future. The MNLA wanted political autonomy, while the jihadists wanted to implement strict religious rule.

The conflict escalated rapidly due to political instability in the capital, Bamako. On March 22, 2012, President Amadou Toumani Touré was removed from power in a coup d'état. A group of mutinous soldiers called the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State took control. This coup happened because many felt the government was failing to handle the northern crisis. During this period of uncertainty, government resistance in the north collapsed. Rebels quickly captured the provincial capitals of Timbuktu, Kidal, and Gao within just three days.

By April 6, 2012, the MNLA declared the independence of Azawad. However, international bodies like the African Union and the European Union rejected this claim. Soon, the alliance between the MNLA and the jihadist groups broke apart. Open fighting erupted between the secular rebels and the religious militants. The jihadist groups eventually won this struggle, seizing control of almost all of Azawad. This left only a few isolated pockets of territory under the control of the MNLA and allied militias.

To reclaim the north, the Malian government sought international military assistance. On January 11, 2013, the French military began operations to fight the Islamist groups. Supported by African and international forces, the Malian government regained most of its lost territory. In June 2015, leaders signed the Algiers Accords to try and find a lasting peace. This agreement aimed to decentralize the state and integrate former rebels into the national army.

Despite these efforts, fighting continued between various splinter groups and coalitions.

The security situation became even more complicated as new groups emerged. In 2017, several jihadist factions merged to form the Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) coalition. At the same time, the Islamic State – Sahel Province was founded in 2015. Interestingly, these two rival groups—one linked to al-Qaeda and one to the Islamic State—co-existed peacefully while fighting the government. This phenomenon was described by researchers as the "Sahel exception."

However, this period of relative stability ended in 2019 when the two groups began fighting each other.

Recent years have seen significant shifts in leadership and international relations. In 2020 and 2021, military coups led by Colonel Assimi Goïta changed the government. These changes were driven by mass protests and disagreements over how to cooperate with foreign powers. The arrival of the Wagner Group, a group of mercenaries, caused international tension. Consequently, partners like France and Canada announced they would withdraw their troops by 2022.

As of late 2024, the conflict remains active with new movements seeking independence for Azawad.