Separatists or outright opponents of Russia: what you should know about the Tuaregs

Separatists or outright opponents of Russia: what you should know about the Tuaregs Angela Figin

A few days ago, on July 27, fighting intensified between the Tuareg and Malian troops, who are collaborating with the Russian Wagnerians. In particular, the Tuaregs organized an ambush and killed more than 80 Wagnerites.

On air 24 Channel Africanist researcher, Global Ukraine Foundation Marta Oleinik-Demochko told who the Tuaregs are and what they rebelled against.

Who are the Tuaregs

The Tuaregs are a Berber people, an indigenous ethnic group of North Africa. They have lived in northwestern Mali since about the 8th century. Since the 1960s, when Africa gained independence, the Tuaregs have been trying to create their own country, Azawad.

Currently, the Tuaregs live in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Algeria, and Libya.

If we talk about their state, it will be located approximately at the place where the borders of these countries converge, the Africanist researcher noted.

Their last successful uprising was in 2012. Then, due to the fact that Mali could not suppress the Tuareg uprising, which was later joined by jihadist mercenaries, even the president was removed from power and a military coup took place. Thanks to France and its Operation Serval, the situation was resolved.

In 2013, even the unrecognized state of Azawad was proclaimed. However, when the hot phase of the conflict was reaching its end in 2015, the Tuaregs abandoned this country, since no one recognized it, and said that they agreed to autonomy within Mali.

The ceasefire agreement was in effect even when two coups took place in Mali in 2020 and 2021, because brokers of this peace agreement were still in the country, in particular the French and NATO military, – said Oleynik-Demochko.

After the coups The Mali junta has completely set its course towards Russia. She deployed French troops and a stabilization mission. In August 2023, the Malian Junta occupied a base near the city of Timbuktu, which once belonged to the UN, and from there they carried out several attacks on the Tuaregs.

Accordingly, the Tuaregs declared that the 2015 agreement was no longer valid because they were being attacked. They began to blame Mali and the Wagner Group for all armed conflicts, declaring war on them. Since August 2023, there have been constant clashes between the Tuaregs and the Malian forces, which are supported by the Wagner Group.

The Tuaregs suffered several defeats, and at the end of 2023 they lost territory in the north of the country. In particular, a large city like Kidal, which is strategic for them. When the Malian army entered Kidal in November 2023, they first hung the flag of the Russian Wagner mercenaries over the city, and only then removed it and hung the flag of Mali, – added the Africanist researcher.

Since last year, when the Tuaregs failed, they switched to the tactics of undermining, blocking roads, organizing terrorist attacks. They were also joined by several groups associated with Al-Qaeda.

Al-Qaeda is an international Sunni jihadist terrorist organization. Founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan to fight the Soviet invasion.

How to treat the Tuaregs

An Africanist researcher answered how Ukraine, which is a democratic country, should treat the Tuaregs and their struggle.

This issue should be considered from the outside, how our main international partners, African countries with which Ukraine is going to increase cooperation, would react to it, – noted Oleynik-Demochko.

The Tuaregs are a people with a long history, but we cannot say that they are good or kind. After all, in 2012, when the Tuaregs began their uprising, they were accused of a number of crimes: rape, kidnapping, reprisals against civilians, and recruitment of children.

On the other hand, the Mali Junta is now, through the hands of the Wagnerites, essentially doing the same thing. The fact that the Tuaregs liquidated the Wagnerites is a plus for us and also a colossal blow to Russia's image. After all, on the African continent, the Kremlin is promoting the Wagnerites as superheroes.

Even a few months ago, there was a whole series of videos on social networks where the Wagnerites were depicted as superheroes. Like, they are strong and will now save West Africa from the Europeans.