The Malian crisis: security threats from the Sahel

Abstract

Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa. Since the country’s first multi-party elections in 1992, it has been regarded as a model of African democracy. In spite of this, for over a year, Mali has been in the grip of one of the most severe political and humanitarian crisis since it gained independence from France in 1960. The collapse of Libyan regime increased the instability of the area, favouring the return of Tuaregs who had served in the army of Gaddafi, while opening the borders to the smuggling of illegal arms. Between January and March 2012, the Tuareg MNLA undermined the government of Mali, calling for the independence of the Azawad. This resulted in a military coup, since the Malian army complained about being ill-equipped to fight insurgents. The MNLA was initially supported by Ansar Dine, MUJWA and AQIM,fundamentalist groups that established in the north an Islamic regime based on Sharia. The international community had already begun to worry over internal struggles as a source of destabilization, and over the Sahel as a possible new frontier of terrorist training. Western countries and African governments were concerned that ungoverned swathes of the Sahara could become jihadist havens and worried an expansion of the instability across other strategic African regions, with repercussions extending to the Mediterranean. Therefore, responses to the Malian crisis occurred at three levels: international, regional, and national. UNSC Resolution 2085 authorized AFISMA intervention. On January 11th, Operation Serval marked a shift in international responses to the situation. France took direct action while U.S., Canada and some European countries provided logistical support to ongoing operations. The European Council itself decided to put into effect the initiative EUTM. Presidential elections were held in summer 2013 and they represented an important step in Mali’s return to democracy and constitutional order.If security is required to enable the spread of humanitarian assistance and the implementation of development programs, it is above all the commitment of the Malian political class that will enable the straightening of the country's governance and the revival of economic and social projects.