Economy: • Like Kenya • No oil reserves • Tons of subsistence farming • Investment starting to come in. New President- • Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (IBK) • Won 77.61% of votes vs. Soumaila Cisse (former finance minister) • Election forced by international society • 11th august 2013 • French Foreign minister Laurent Fabius says "rebirth" of Mali • European Commission pledges 639 million dollars for reconstruction • EC suggests that IBK talk peace with Tuaregs • Think it’s a revolution
History: • In the 1990's Tuaregs and Arab nomads formed the Mouvement Populaire de l’Azaouad (MPA) • This was for independence of Azawad • Wanted separate state • Allied with AQ • Had peace agreements with gov in 1991 and 1995 still dissatisfies • Had difficulty maintaining secularism and Islamists • Lead to the fall of the president
Tuaregs: • Nomad group • Live in Saharan parts of Nigeria, Mali, and Algeria • Also found in southeastern Algeria, southwestern Libya, and northern Burkina Faso Crisis: • Began last year - Secessionist Tuareg rebels (in alliance with AQ) swept across the nation., forcing 500,000 people to leave homes due to terror. • March 2012- Amadou Toumani Toure (president) • Wasn't able to fight rebels due to the lack of resources for the army. • Jan 2013 France sent 4,500 troops • France still has more than 3000soldiers there. • People blame National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) for the problem. • On 16 January 2012, several insurgent groups began fighting a campaign against the Malian government for independence or greater autonomy for northern Mali, an area known as Azawad. The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), an organization fighting to make Azawad an independent homeland for the Tuareg people, had taken control of the region by April 2012. • Gidal, Gao, and Timbuktu overrun by rebels • After capturing Douentza, MNLA declared success • MNLA backed by Ansar Dine • Implemented Sharia law • MNLA began to fight ansar dine
