Mali, a West African country, has been at the center of political unrest and instability for years. The ongoing conflicts in the north, fueled by the Tuareg rebellion and later by jihadist groups, have plunged the country into a deep crisis. The situation was further exacerbated by two military coups in 2020 and 2021, with the last coup leading to Assimi Goïta taking power. While Goïta promises democratic elections, the international community remains skeptical. Under his leadership, Mali's citizens are experiencing considerable restrictions on freedom, which the government justifies with the need for security and the fight against terrorism. Despite these justifications, the international community has harshly criticized Mali and imposed sanctions. The conflict in the north and the military regime have a far-reaching impact on the economy and the people of Mali. Political situation in Mali: terrorism & military rule The political situation in Mali has been unstable for years. Since 2012, the country has been plagued by a conflict in the north, which was initially triggered by the Tuareg rebellion and later continued by jihadist groups. This conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. In 2020, there was a military coup that overthrew the then elected government. Just one year later, in 2021, the transitional government was deposed in another military coup. The current president of Mali, Assimi Goïta, came to power in May 2021 after this second coup. Although Goïta has promised to hold democratic elections, the international community is expressing doubts about these promises. Under military rule, the citizens of Mali have experienced considerable restrictions on their freedoms. The government justifies these measures by arguing that they are necessary to ensure the country's security and to fight terrorism. Nevertheless, the international community has sharply criticized these measures and imposed sanctions against Mali. The human rights situation in the country has deteriorated and people are afraid of their own government and do not dare to express their opinions freely.there is no evidence that the military coups of 2020 and 2021 were supported by jihadist groups. The coups were carried out by a group of soldiers led by Assimi Goïta who were dissatisfied with the government of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The jihadist groups in northern Mali have condemned the coups and announced their intention to continue fighting against the government. They are also threatening attacks on the Malian army and international troops in the country, and the instability in Mali could be used by jihadist groups to strengthen their position in the north of the country. Mali's neighboring countries are also unstable and are fighting against terrorism. In the wake of the coup in Niger, the military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso spoke out against any intervention in Niger in response to the ECOWAS decisions. Both Burkina Faso and Mali were expelled from ECOWAS because of the military takeovers, and in addition to the political problems, climate change has led to droughts and floods in Mali. This in turn has exacerbated food shortages and fueled conflicts between different population groups. Mali conflict: from Azawad to the Islamic State The protracted conflict in Mali is the result of a mixture of Tuareg rebellion in the north, a profound socio-economic crisis and the spread of jihadist groups throughout the Sahel region. The Tuareg, an ethnic minority, have repeatedly rebelled against the Malian government since 1963, particularly in 1963, 1990, 1994-2000, 2006 and 2012. They felt marginalized by the central government and demanded far-reaching autonomy for their territories in northern Mali. 2012 marked a turning point in this ongoing conflict. A military coup led to Islamist and Tuareg rebels taking control of the north of the country. The Tuareg, who felt neglected and oppressed by the government, conquered large parts of the north and proclaimed the independent state of "Azawad". However, their rebellion was hijacked by jihadist groups who took over the north of the country and attempted to establish an Islamist state. These groups, including the Islamist group AQMI and the Mouvement pour l'Unité et le Jihad en Afrique de l'Ouest, attempted to advance into the south and threaten the capital Bamako in 2013. France intervened militarily and liberated the occupied cities, but was unable to completely defeat the jihadist groups. In addition to the UN mission MINUSMA, French troops have also been present in northern Mali since 2014 as part of the Barkhane counter-terrorism operation. MINUSMA, one of the largest UN missions in the world with around 12,000 blue helmet soldiers, has made the protection of the civilian population and support for national security forces its main tasks. The German Armed Forces have also been active in Mali since 2013 and are involved in both MINUSMA and the EU-led training mission EUTM in Mali. Its main objective is to combat the causes of displacement through logistical support, education and medical care. Despite these international efforts, the situation in Mali remains tense and the deployment of the German Armed Forces is also being increasingly scrutinized in Germany. Since 2021, Russia has been Mali's main partner in the fight against jihadists, while France, Germany and other Western and African countries have gradually announced their withdrawal. Mali is now demanding the withdrawal of numerous stationed soldiers from the UN mission MUSMA from the north and center of the country. Economy in Mali The economic situation in Mali is worrying. As one of the poorest countries in the world, the average daily income of the population is only around EUR 2. The country's economy is mainly characterized by mining and agriculture. In fact, agriculture contributes around 36% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), as of 2022, and employs around 80% of the population. However, agriculture is increasingly affected by climatic conditions, which further threatens economic stability.Mali's economic challenges are exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with jihadists in the north, widespread corruption within the government, an inefficient administration and a lack of infrastructure. Before the military coup, Mali was a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The country's agriculture is mainly focused on the export of cotton, gold, peanuts and livestock. In addition, the processing of agricultural products, the construction industry and the textile industry are the country's most important industries, and Mali is also a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the African Union. Despite the economic challenges, the Malian government is committed to diversifying the economy and reducing poverty in the country. However, the biggest economic challenges include political instability, corruption and the effects of climate change.
Trump’s travel ban: Mali and Burkina Faso stop issuing visas to US citizens
The United States entry ban for over 20 African countries came into force at the beginning of the year. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger responded with countermeasures.
By David Renke