Mali finds itself in a precarious state, with daily escalating uncertainty fueled by armed group attacks. The critical questions persist: How can this impasse be resolved, and how can the intercommunal coexistence, severely strained by years of crisis, be safeguarded?
For years, Mali has grappled with a profound and multifaceted crisis, encompassing both security and political dimensions.
The security crisis intensifies with relentless assaults from jihadist and separatist armed groups. A recent significant incident occurred on April 25, when the capital, Bamako, was targeted in an attack that tragically claimed the life of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, among others.
Simultaneously, a deep political crisis persists, marked by the suspension of political party activities and the military’s firm grip on power, maintained since the coups d’état of 2020 and 2021.
In November 2023, the Malian Armed Forces, backed by Russian paramilitary units from the Wagner Group, successfully recaptured Kidal, a city that had been under rebel control since 2012. This significant escalation of hostilities effectively signaled the collapse of the 2015 Algiers Accord, an agreement designed to foster peace between the Malian government and northern separatists.
On January 25, 2024, the Malian government officially declared the “immediate termination” of the Algiers Accord for peace and reconciliation. With the accord abandoned, the conflict reignited. This resurgence culminated on April 25, 2026, when separatists from the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) and the Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (JNIM) launched coordinated attacks across several cities, including Bamako, swiftly reasserting control over Kidal.
Further insights into this evolving situation are provided by analyses from experts such as Étienne Fakaba Sissoko of the CFR, Gilles Yabi of WATHI, and sociologist Mohamed Abdellahi Elkhalil.
