Mali case study (3.b. and 4.a.)

 

Sovereignty and territorial integrity issues in Mali - Tuareg separatism

• When countries' borders were drawn there was little regard for tribal lands

• This is why the Tuareg people want the Azaward region in northern Mali to be independent - this is what the MNLA is campaigning for

• This is a direct challenge to Mali's territorial integrity

Sovereignty and territorial integrity issues in Mali - Islamist groups

• Islamist groups took advantage of instability, capturing northern cities after MNLA initially took them

• Serious extremist attacks on Malian military and French peacekeeping missions

• Trafficking of people

• Schools targeted to reduce access to education and increases vulnerability to forced labour and recruitment to armed forces

• Terrorist attacks have challenged the government's ability to control its territory and protect its population

Sovereignty and territorial integrity issues in Mali - political instability

• 2012 military coup weakened the government and allowed northern cities to be overrun

• Further coups in 2020 and 2021 weakened state authority

• This makes maintaining territorial integrity and effective sovereignty more difficult

The people's movement for the liberation of Azawad (MNLA)

• An organisation that fights for the independence of the northern part of Mali, home to the Taureg people

• Declared war over independence in the 1990s

• Fighting surged in 2007 and 2012

• The Azawad area was liberated but conflict between Islamist groups and the MNLA ensued

• This conflict meant the northern cities went under the control of Islamists not the MNLA

• Fighting from the Malian military and foreign intervention means currently these northern cities are back in control

Opportunities for stability in Mali

• 15,000 UN peacekeeping troops - however many countries pulled out

• There is an opportunity for stability if the Malian government grants independence to the Azawad region because it will satisfy the MNLA

• MINUSMA was established by the UN to try and stabilise Mali's security and human rights

• The 2015 peace deal gave northern communities greater political representation

Opportunities for economic growth in Mali - informal sector

• Informal sector remains the backbone of Malian people's livelihoods

• 2025 - informal sector accounted for 90% of the economy and 40% of GDP

• Socio-economic safety net for millions of Malians, especially women and displaced people

Opportunities for economic growth in Mali - industry

Due to agricultural production and lithium extraction, economic growth is expected to go up by 5% in 2025

Opportunities for social development

• Social benefits of informal sector are widespread.

• Provides a safety net for displaced Malians

• Enhances social cohesion

• Making money in the informal sector gives people a chance to rebuild their lives

 

 

Inequality in Mali

• High levels of income and gender inequality

• Cultural and language divisions between ethnic groups

• Urban-rural inequality due to gap in services available. In rural areas 8.5% have access to electricity; in urban areas 86% do

Injustice in Mali

• Government cannot protect citizens from human rights abuses

• Women and children are subject to abuse, child marriage, and gender-based violence

• Abductions, people trafficking, rape, forced marriage

• Drug smuggling

• Poor access to education and low adult literacy rate

• Low life expectancy

Mali demographic/economic context

It is a low income country with a GDP per capita of $2,500. the life expectancy is 57 years for men. Over 21 million people live there.

The economy is dependent on remittances

Mali geographical context

In the north, there is desert. This is where the Tuareg group lives

In the south, this is where the most economic activity happens in the capital city.

The global governance strategies used by a range of scales in Mali - MINUSMA and UN

• MINUSMA was established by the UN in 2013 to stabilise Mali, protect the people and support political processes

• There were 15,000 troops

• It ended after 10 years because of lack of co-operation from the Malian government

The global governance strategies used by a range of scales in Mali - French military

• Entered in 2013 to support Malian government's attempts to regain controls of northern cities over the Islamist groups

• In 2018 more troops came, following more protests by the MNLA

• They withdrew by 2022 due to coups and demands to leave

• France is no longer sending aid to Mali because they were concerned Mali was collaborating with the Russian Wagner group

The global governance strategies used by a range of scales in Mali - Malian government

• Ousted in a coup in 2012

• This caused chaos and led MNLA rebels to protest for northern cities to be liberated

• Government asked for foreign military help in 2013 which allowed the Malian government to regain control rather than the Islamist groups

• The military made a recent decision to cancel elections for 5 years

The global governance strategies used by a range of scales in Mali - ECOWAS

• The Economic Community of West African states

• Mediated between the government and separatist groups

• Tried to restore civilian government

The global governance strategies used by a range of scales in Mali - NGOs

• CARE - food insecurity and poverty

• World education mali - education, literacy

• Population services international - reproductive health

• In 2024 Mali banned all French NGOs

2015 peace agreement

• Recognition of locally elected northern leaders.

• Greater representation of northern populations.

• More state budget transferred to northern local authorities.

• Gives some autonomy to the north.

Success of global governance

Global governance has had some successes, such as the 2015 peace agreement and humanitarian assistance, but overall its impact has been limited because conflict and instability continue.

The consequences of this conflict on local communities

• Violent attacks by armed groups

• Malian armed forces executed 300 civilians in March 2022

• Over 385,000 people have been internally displaced

• 1,595 schools shut

• 91% of Malian women undergo female genital mutilation