Tuareg Separatism and Islimists Threat in Azavad

Article in Elibrary

Received: 10/25/2022

Accepted: 11/25/2022

Keywords: Azawad; Islamism; Tuaregs; Sahel; Separatism; Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb; Ansar Al-Din

To cite this article

Issaev L.M., Bobarykina D.A., Andrey V. Korotayev Tuareg Separatism and Islimists Threat in Azavad. // Lomonosov Oriental Studies Journal. 2022. N 4, p.20–31

Issaev L.M. Bobarykina D.A. Andrey V. Korotayev (HSE University)
(Institute for African Studies of Russian Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Authors consider interaction of factors of Tuareg nationalism/ separatism and Islamist radicalism/jihadism in Mali. They show the influence of the Arab Spring on the development of the processes of growth of Islamist radicalism and Tuareg separatism in the northern regions of this country. Authors analyze the fourth Tuareg uprising, the Islamist revolution in Azawad that took place in the summer of 2012, the Islamist offensive in southern Mali in 2013 and its impact on relations between Bamako and Tuareg nationalists, as well as a new jihadist offensive in recent years. It is concluded that the central government of Mali and the Tuareg nationalists again turn out to be situational allies, since they now face one main enemy that threatens the existence of both the Malian state and potential real Tuareg autonomy, Azawad - Islamist jihadi radicals.