Last week in Mali, a series of simultaneous attacks on strategic positions of the army in several cities, including the capital Bamako, caused the ruling junta to falter. The number 2 of the regime, Defense Minister Sadio Camara, was killed in Kati while the symbolic city of Kidal in the north fell into the hands of rebels. A setback for the junta and for the Russian paramilitaries who were forced to retreat.
Attacks jointly carried out by the Jnim (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, affiliated with al-Qaeda) and the FLA, the Front for the Liberation of Azawad, this vast area in northern Mali where Tuareg separatists have been demanding independence for decades.
On Tuesday, February 28, after three days of silence, the junta leader, Assimi Goïta, called for a national awakening and declared the situation under control, but the rebels continue to advance: they seized the strategic military camp of Tessalit in the north yesterday.
What are Jnim and FLA looking for? Do they have the same objectives or are they temporary allies? Can the junta, which barely controls 30% of the territory, maintain power after failing, with its Russian partners, to restore peace and state authority throughout the country? In case of collapse of the military regime, should we fear a domino effect in the Sahel? What role does Algeria play behind the scenes?
– Context: The article discusses recent attacks in Mali by rebel groups and raises questions about the junta’s ability to maintain power. – Fact Check: The FLA stands for Front for the Liberation of Azawad.
