BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

CHALLENGES OF PEACE IN MALI

Author: Md. Mamunur Rashid

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2020v41n4a4

ABSTRACT

Mali faced a great challenge when Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda took control of the desert north in early 2012, exploiting a Tuareg separatist uprising defeating Mali Armed Forces (FAMA). Malian Government asked help from France to save Mali from catastrophic defeat. French Forces landed Mali in 2013 and within three and half months they recaptured all important provinces of northern and eastern regions. United Nations (UN) Troops were deployed in 2013 for bringing peace in Mali. The Mali government signed a peace deal with the main rebel coalition keeping transnational and local Terrorist Armed Groups (TAGs) out of peace agreement. The rebels, signatory to the peace agreement, were not sincere in the peace process. TAGs are taking this opportunity. They are also motivating tribes to fight each other. As the French Forces attack and kill TAGs to eradicate terrorism from this region, the TAGs are also aiming French and UN Forces in weak deployed cantonments to take revenge. Though French Forces could eradicate TAGs major deployment from northern and eastern part of Mali but they could not wipe them out totally. TAGs are taking shelter in bordering states and continuing attacking French and UN Forces sporadically making peace process more difficult to implement. Absence of political, legal institutions, good communication network, administrative infrastructure, law and order situation control and monitoring system including securing of borders in northern and eastern part of Mali is aggravating the crisis in Mali. Difference between north, east with south may be reduced so that people living in the north and east do not feel neglected by the Government operating from the South.