Editing History of Mali (section)

===2010s===
{{further|Mali War}}
In January 2012, the [[National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad]] (MNLA) [[2012 insurgency in the Azawad|began an insurgency]].<ref>[http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Mali-clashes-force-120-000-from-homes-20120222 Mali clashes force 120 000 from homes]. News24 (2012-02-22). Retrieved on: 23 Feb 2012.</ref> Rebel troops from the military appeared on state TV on 22 March 2012 announcing they had [[2012 Mali coup d'état attempt|seized control of the country]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17462111 Post-coup Mali hit with sanctions by African neighbours – Globe and Mail]. Bbc.co.uk (2012-03-22). Retrieved on 2012-05-04.</ref> citing unrest over the president's handling of the conflict with the rebels. The former president was forced into hiding.

However, due to the [[2012 insurgency in northern Mali]], the military government controlled only the southern third of the country, leaving the north of the country (known as [[Azawad]]) to MNLA rebels. The rebels controlled Timbuktu, 700&nbsp;km from the capital.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17576725 BBC News – Mali Tuareg rebels control Timbuktu as troops flee]. Bbc.co.uk (2012-04-02). Retrieved on 2012-05-04.</ref> In response, the [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) froze assets and imposed an embargo, leaving some with only days of fuel. Mali was dependent on fuel imports trucked overland from [[Senegal]] and [[Ivory Coast]].<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/post-coup-mali-hit-with-sanctions-by-african-neighbours/article2390504/ Post-coup Mali hit with sanctions by African neighbours]. Theglobeandmail.com (2012-04-03). Retrieved on 2012-05-04.</ref>

On July 17, 2012, the [[Tuareg Rebellion (2012)|Tuareg rebels]] were pushed out by their allies, the [[Islamists]], [[Ansar Dine]], and [[Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb|Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (A.Q.I.M.)]].<ref name="Nossiter">{{cite news|last=Nossiter|first=Adam|title=Jihadists' Fierce Justice Drives Thousands to Flee Mali|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> An extremist ministate in northern Mali was the unexpected result from the collapse of the earlier [[coup d'etat]] by the angry army officers.<ref name="Nossiter"/>

Refugees in the 92,000-person refugee camp at [[Mbera]], [[Mauritania]], described the Islamists as "intent on imposing an Islam of lash and gun on Malian Muslims."<ref name="Nossiter"/> The Islamists in Timbuktu destroyed about a half-dozen venerable above-ground tombs of revered holy men, proclaiming the tombs contrary to [[Shariah]].<ref name="Nossiter"/> One refugee in the camp spoke of encountering Afghans, Pakistanis and Nigerians.<ref name="Nossiter"/>

[[Ramtane Lamamra]], the [[African Union]]'s peace and security commissioner, said the African Union discussed sending a military force to reunify Mali and that negotiations with terrorists had been ruled out but negotiations with other armed factions were still open.<ref name="Nossiter"/>

On 10 December 2012 Prime Minister [[Cheick Modibo Diarra]] was arrested by soldiers and taken to a military base in [[Kati, Mali|Kati]].<ref name="AP 10">{{cite news|title=Mali's PM arrested by junta|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/asia_pacific/view/20121210malis_pm_arrested_by_junta/srvc=home&position=recent|access-date=11 December 2012|agency=Associated Press|date=10 December 2012}}</ref> Hours later, the Prime Minister announced his resignation and the resignation of his government on national television.<ref name="AFP 10">{{cite news|title=Mali PM resigns after being arrested by troops|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hrZo4r-Mz8yfVDSIB1tYxWCFLupw?docId=CNG.924cb15c775e21276db5cd9e029672d3.a1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103033435/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hrZo4r-Mz8yfVDSIB1tYxWCFLupw?docId=CNG.924cb15c775e21276db5cd9e029672d3.a1|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013|access-date=11 December 2012|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=10 December 2012}}</ref>

On 10 January 2013, Islamist forces captured the strategic town of [[Konna]], located 600&nbsp;km from the capital, from the Malian army.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-rebels-idUSBRE90912Q20130110 | title=Mali Islamists capture strategic town, residents flee | work=Reuters | date=10 January 2013 | access-date=10 January 2013}}</ref> The following day, the French military launched [[Opération Serval]], intervening in the conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2013/01/12/la-france-demande-une-acceleration-de-la-mise-en-place-de-la-force-internationale-au-mali_1816033_3212.html |title=Mali – la France a mené une série de raids contre les islamistes |date=12 January 2013 |work=Le Monde |access-date=2013-01-13}}</ref>

By 8 February, the Islamist-held territory had been re-taken by the Malian military, with help from the international coalition. Tuareg separatists have continued to fight the Islamists as well, although the [[National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad|MNLA]] has also been accused of carrying out attacks against the Malian military.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130322/five-malians-killed-ambush-blamed-tuareg-army |title=Five Malians killed in ambush blamed on Tuareg: army |agency=AFP |date=22 March 2013 |access-date=23 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525230652/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130322/five-malians-killed-ambush-blamed-tuareg-army |archive-date=25 May 2013 }}</ref>

A peace deal between the government and Tuareg rebels was signed on 18 June 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mali and Tuareg rebels sign peace deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22961519 |work=BBC News |date=18 June 2013}}</ref>

[[Malian presidential election, 2013|Presidential elections]] were held in [[Mali]] on 28 July 2013, with a second round run-off held on 11 August.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/05/201352814129579842.html Mali sets date for presidential election] Al Jazeera, 28 May 2013</ref> [[Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta]] defeated [[Soumaïla Cissé]] in the run-off to become the new [[President of Mali]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ibrahim Boubacar Keita wins Mali presidential election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-23677124 |work=BBC News |date=13 August 2013}}</ref>

The peace deal between the Tuareg rebels and the Malian government was broken in late November 2013 because of clashes in the northern city of [[Kidal]].<ref name="http">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25161049 |title=Tuareg separatist group in Mali 'ends ceasefire' |agency=BBC |date=29 November 2013 |access-date=28 December 2013 |work=BBC News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202065114/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25161049 |archive-date=2 December 2013 }}</ref> A new ceasefire was agreed upon on 20 February 2015 between the Malian government and the northern rebels.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31544438|title=Mali signs UN ceasefire to end conflict with northern rebels|newspaper=BBC News|date=20 February 2015}}</ref>

In August 2018, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was re-elected for a new five-year term after winning the second round of the [[2018 Malian presidential election|election]] against Soumaïla Cissé.<ref>{{cite news |title=Incumbent President Keita wins re-election in Mali |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20180816-mali-incumbent-president-ibraham-boubacar-keita-wins-election |work=France 24 |date=16 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>