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Mali’s conflict description

Since January 2012, the beginning of the open armed conflict in Mali between the Bamako’s Government and the tuaregs, several armed groups have joint togetherkidnapping the tuareg causes for claim. That’s how, what started as a claim for more rights turned out to be armed groups combating against the central Government supported by France and some Africancountries. Let’s analyze the different groups involved:

1. Movement for the Liberalization of Azawad (MLA): is the tuareg political and military organization whose objective is make Azawad free fromMali’s occupation.

2. Ansar Din: Is the jihadist movement directed by Iyad Ag Ghaly who, opposed to MLA wants the imposition of the Islamic law (sharia) in Mali. This group is characterized by theimposition of strong punishements in order to apply the law such as flagellations, amputations or public executions.

3. Islamic movement of azawad (IMA): They are opposed to the alliancebetween Asar Din and Al-Qaida and want negotiation as the solution of the conflict. They ask for the Mali’s north region autonomy.

4. Al Qaida: Is a terrorist group created by Osama Bin Laden who isoperating in Sahel.

5. Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, Boko Haram and Al Shabab

The crisis started by March 2012 when MNLA enganged in a coup d’etat. Profiting from thegenerated caos, the tuareg took control of Azawad-Tombuctú, Kidal and Gao declaring it as an independent state without international support.

However, at the same time, the Islamic groups of Mali: AlQaeda, Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa and Ansar Dine rapidly expulsed MNLA from Azawad and now are imposing the Islamic law.

France intervention

There is a third player in this crisis,France, and this is clearly due to economic and political interests as Mali was France’s colony until 1960 and France keeps several interests in the country. Since the early movement of the...