Since 2012, Mali has faced a volatile crisis as political armed groups, including ethnic based movements, jihadist groups and transnational criminal networks, fight for hegemony and the control of trafficking routes in the North. The 2015 peace agreement remains very difficult to implement and signatory groups still resort to violence to settle differences. Jihadist violence against security forces is increasing and militants have gone rural to capitalise on local conflicts and the absence of the State to secure safe havens and new recruits. Mali’s instability has regional consequences as violent extremism spills into neighbouring countries. Through field research, timely reports and advocacy with regional and local actors, Crisis Group seeks to broaden understanding of the complex roots of violence in Mali via local, gendered and regional lenses and to find solutions to problems of governance.
Dans cet épisode d’Afrique 360°, Enrica Picco et Floor Keuleers reçoivent Oumou Sall Seck, maire de la ville malienne de Goundam et ancienne ambassadrice du Mali en Allemagne, et Ornella Moderan, chercheuse spécialisée dans les questions de sécurité et de gouvernance au Sahel, pour parler des inégalités de genre dans la perpétuation des violences et la construction de la paix au Sahel.
Amid persistent violence, impact of deadly July attack in north continued as govt severed relations with Ukraine; political climate remained tense.
Fallout out from killings in Kidal region continued, including internationally. Following July attack around Tinzaouaten town – which was perhaps deadliest incident to date for Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group) in Mali – separatist Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP) armed coalition 1 Aug claimed to have killed 84 Russian and 47 Malian troops. Full picture of events remained unclear, including who inflicted most casualties between CSP and al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) – both involved in clashes but at different stages. Conflict continued in area with military carrying out multiple airstrikes near Tinzaouaten. Meanwhile, govt 4 Aug cut diplomatic relations with Kyiv after Ukrainian military official claimed support role in Tinzaouaten, including providing intelligence and training; authorities called this “clear aggression” and received support from Sahelian neighbours (see Niger). Ukraine 5 Aug said decision to cut ties was “short-sighted and hasty” without “any evidence”. Meanwhile, govt 23 Aug suspended French broadcaster LCI for two months after program covered attack.
Jihadist-related violence persisted across north and centre. In north, Islamic State Sahel Province 16 Aug killed three civilians in Arhabou village, Gao region. In centre, JNIM 15 Aug killed at least 15 soldiers on patrol near Diallassagou town, Mopti region. Reports of abuses against civilians continued; Russian paramilitaries 5 Aug allegedly killed at least ten civilians in Toule village, Segou region (centre).
Political climate remained tense as repression continued. Collective of lawyers 3 Aug expressed concern over disappearance of legal official from prison cell while PM Maïga 5 Aug publicly criticised May arrest of political ally. Head of High Islamic Council 17 Aug called for dialogue with armed groups; draft charter from inter-Malian dialogue that ended in May – due to be submitted to govt in Sept – could open window for talks, although prospects remained uncertain.
In other important international developments. Govt 9 Aug expelled Swedish ambassador after Sweden two days prior announced “phase out” of development aid; Denmark 26 Aug said it would close embassies in Mali and Burkina Faso (see Burkina Faso).
The jihadists have deeply ingrained themselves into the local landscape [in northern Mali]. [That] has made it much harder to uproot them.
MONUSCO has largely failed [in DR Congo] because its deployment has not had a significant impact on security over the past decade.
The Malian army is now demonstrating its ability to organize complex operations, particularly in the center of the country.
What we see in Mali is that Russia does not bring more security or improvements in the situation. The Russian army in Ukraine is not doing well, and in Mali, the Wagner G...
In northern Mali, fighting has resumed between armed groups signatory to the 2015 peace agreement and government forces, even as clashes with jihadists continue. Bamako's initiative for an inter-Malian dialogue constitutes an opportunity to restore calm.
Fighting has resumed between the Wagner Group-supported Malian army and a coalition of armed groups that signed the 2015 peace agreement, jeopardising the accord. Crisis Group experts Ibrahim Maïga and Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim explain what caused these clashes and what each side could lose.
At Bamako’s request, the UN Security Council has begun drawing down the UN peacekeeping operation in Mali. In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts Richard Gowan and Daniel Forti explore the implications for blue helmet missions elsewhere on the continent.
On 16 June, Bamako asked the UN Security Council to withdraw the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts Jean-Hervé Jézéquel and Ibrahim Maïga look at the reasons behind the Malian authorities’ decision as well as its consequences.
Crisis-ridden Mali and Burkina Faso face jihadist insurgency and political turmoil. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group outlines what the EU and its member states can do to prevent these two countries from falling into further regional isolation.
In a strategic shift, the Malian authorities have turned away from France and chosen Russia as their main military ally. Relations between Bamako and other Western and regional partners are also deteriorating. Mali and its partners should work to rebuild more balanced diplomatic relations.
The UK, Côte d’Ivoire and other nations plan to pull their troops out of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, clouding its future as it undergoes internal review. In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts discuss the mission’s challenges and scenarios for what could come next.
The Malian government’s battle with jihadist insurgencies goes on after two coups in Bamako in the last two years. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2022 – Spring Update, Crisis Group urges the EU and its member states to endorse talks about a return to constitutional rule, increase support for civil society and back electoral reform initiatives.
In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and Naz Modirzadeh talk with Sahel experts Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim and Richard Moncrieff about France’s announcement it will pull troops from Mali, and what the withdrawal means for the fighting against jihadist insurgents.
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