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| Islamist insurgency in Mali casts long shadow over Timbuktu | Islamist insurgency in Mali casts long shadow over Timbuktu |
| (3 months later) | |
| Five months after French troops liberated Timbuktu from Islamist fighters, the ancient desert town, like much of northern Mali, is struggling to recover from the effects of the nine-month occupation as well as longer-term security and development problems. | Five months after French troops liberated Timbuktu from Islamist fighters, the ancient desert town, like much of northern Mali, is struggling to recover from the effects of the nine-month occupation as well as longer-term security and development problems. |
| Few of the things a city needs in order to function – electricity, fuel, banks, marketplaces, and basic government services such as the town hall or judiciary – are fully up and running. | Few of the things a city needs in order to function – electricity, fuel, banks, marketplaces, and basic government services such as the town hall or judiciary – are fully up and running. |
| There are other, less visible but equally pernicious problems, including a breakdown in the fabric of a citizenry long-famed, thanks to Timbuktu's location at the crossroads of the Sahara, for its cosmopolitan mix of cultures and ethnicities. Mali also contends with a chronic regional food security crisis that leaves millions of people teetering on the edge of catastrophe every time the rains fail. | There are other, less visible but equally pernicious problems, including a breakdown in the fabric of a citizenry long-famed, thanks to Timbuktu's location at the crossroads of the Sahara, for its cosmopolitan mix of cultures and ethnicities. Mali also contends with a chronic regional food security crisis that leaves millions of people teetering on the edge of catastrophe every time the rains fail. |
| These issues and more are explored in IRIN's Trouble in Timbuktu: – northern Mali after the Islamist occupation. | These issues and more are explored in IRIN's Trouble in Timbuktu: – northern Mali after the Islamist occupation. |
| "Timbuktu is free again, but it is a town where there is no economy at all, a town where everything is gone, everything is lost, apart from hope," said Hallé Ousmane, the town's mayor. | "Timbuktu is free again, but it is a town where there is no economy at all, a town where everything is gone, everything is lost, apart from hope," said Hallé Ousmane, the town's mayor. |
| "80% of the civil servants are absent. Even if they were here, their offices are empty. There's no equipment, no computers, nothing – not even a chair. It's impossible to work," he said. | "80% of the civil servants are absent. Even if they were here, their offices are empty. There's no equipment, no computers, nothing – not even a chair. It's impossible to work," he said. |
| Electricity in Timbuktu is available only from 7pm until midnight. There are no petrol stations; instead, fuel is sold in mismatched bottles from stalls at the roadside. | Electricity in Timbuktu is available only from 7pm until midnight. There are no petrol stations; instead, fuel is sold in mismatched bottles from stalls at the roadside. |
| In early 2012, Tuareg separatists launched an offensive in the north, taking over large swaths of the country. After an army coup in March, the separatists were sidelined by a range of Islamist groups (see Who's who, below) who moved into towns including Timbuktu. Many people, including most civil servants, fled. | In early 2012, Tuareg separatists launched an offensive in the north, taking over large swaths of the country. After an army coup in March, the separatists were sidelined by a range of Islamist groups (see Who's who, below) who moved into towns including Timbuktu. Many people, including most civil servants, fled. |
| The occupiers imposed their own interpretation of Islamic law, which is anathema to Timbuktu's Sufi inhabitants. Women were to wear the veil, men to grow beards, and the two were not to associate unless they were married. Those who violated the rules were whipped in public or locked up in crowded cells. | The occupiers imposed their own interpretation of Islamic law, which is anathema to Timbuktu's Sufi inhabitants. Women were to wear the veil, men to grow beards, and the two were not to associate unless they were married. Those who violated the rules were whipped in public or locked up in crowded cells. |
| "We lived in fear. Armed men roamed the streets. Nobody knew what would happen from one day to the next," said Seydou Baba Kounta, a professional tour guide. "They cut off people's hands, people's feet. Schools were abandoned … Every day, people fled the town on trucks, on boats, or 4WDs," he said. | "We lived in fear. Armed men roamed the streets. Nobody knew what would happen from one day to the next," said Seydou Baba Kounta, a professional tour guide. "They cut off people's hands, people's feet. Schools were abandoned … Every day, people fled the town on trucks, on boats, or 4WDs," he said. |
| The increased insecurity in northern Mali had wide-ranging effects on the population – including loss or theft of livestock and jobs, rising prices, and the closure of markets – according to Patrick David, regional food security analyst with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). | The increased insecurity in northern Mali had wide-ranging effects on the population – including loss or theft of livestock and jobs, rising prices, and the closure of markets – according to Patrick David, regional food security analyst with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). |
| "People had great difficulty obtaining basic foods because of lack of supply and price hikes. Livestock mortality was higher than normal. Many herders left for Mauritania. Even now livestock markets are poorly stocked," he said. About 1.3 million people in northern Mali need immediate food assistance. | "People had great difficulty obtaining basic foods because of lack of supply and price hikes. Livestock mortality was higher than normal. Many herders left for Mauritania. Even now livestock markets are poorly stocked," he said. About 1.3 million people in northern Mali need immediate food assistance. |
| Social fabric destroyed | Social fabric destroyed |
| When French forces chased the Islamists from their strongholds in January, many Arab and Tuareg residents also left, fearing reprisals for their suspected association with the occupiers. | When French forces chased the Islamists from their strongholds in January, many Arab and Tuareg residents also left, fearing reprisals for their suspected association with the occupiers. |
| "We have seen that the social tissue in places like Timbuktu is broken. The Arab and Tuareg communities, they have left these areas. A lot of the economy used to be run before the war by these groups … It's been run by them for thousands of years, but now they are absent, so to a great extent the economic engine of the north has come to a stop," said Fernando Arroyo, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Mali. | "We have seen that the social tissue in places like Timbuktu is broken. The Arab and Tuareg communities, they have left these areas. A lot of the economy used to be run before the war by these groups … It's been run by them for thousands of years, but now they are absent, so to a great extent the economic engine of the north has come to a stop," said Fernando Arroyo, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Mali. |
| According to recent returnee Ousmane Maïga, "Now it's up to the government to bring peace and reconcile the different communities." | According to recent returnee Ousmane Maïga, "Now it's up to the government to bring peace and reconcile the different communities." |
| This task will be carried out by the newly formed national dialogue and reconciliation commission. "We are going to spend a lot of time listening, listening to the whole population," its chairman, Mohamed Salia Sokona, told IRIN. | This task will be carried out by the newly formed national dialogue and reconciliation commission. "We are going to spend a lot of time listening, listening to the whole population," its chairman, Mohamed Salia Sokona, told IRIN. |
| "Many people think it's just about north-south reconciliation. In fact, it's everybody. It is inter- and intra-communal, so north-south but also north-north and south-south," he said. "It is about the whole of Mali, because this crisis was not just about the rebellion in the north, but also in the south there has been an institutional crisis which has created divisions that need to be healed." | "Many people think it's just about north-south reconciliation. In fact, it's everybody. It is inter- and intra-communal, so north-south but also north-north and south-south," he said. "It is about the whole of Mali, because this crisis was not just about the rebellion in the north, but also in the south there has been an institutional crisis which has created divisions that need to be healed." |
| As IRIN recently reported, further divisions have arisen over the prospect of holding elections at the end of July. | As IRIN recently reported, further divisions have arisen over the prospect of holding elections at the end of July. |
| The gravity and complexity of the security and governance challenges ahead are underlined by the deployment of the UN multidimensional integrated stabilisation mission in Mali (Minusma), whose mandate includes protecting civilians, monitoring human rights, creating conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance, and the return of displaced people, as well as the extension of state authority. | The gravity and complexity of the security and governance challenges ahead are underlined by the deployment of the UN multidimensional integrated stabilisation mission in Mali (Minusma), whose mandate includes protecting civilians, monitoring human rights, creating conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance, and the return of displaced people, as well as the extension of state authority. |
| While international attention has focused on the activities of Islamists in the north, many analysts believe that the uprising and terrorism are lesser drivers of Mali's chronic instability than governance vacuums, corruption and the international drugs trade. | While international attention has focused on the activities of Islamists in the north, many analysts believe that the uprising and terrorism are lesser drivers of Mali's chronic instability than governance vacuums, corruption and the international drugs trade. |
| Cocaine smuggling | Cocaine smuggling |
| In the mid-2000s, northern Mali started to become an important staging post in the trafficking of cocaine from South America to Europe because of its remoteness and lack of state presence. The smuggling of other products, notably cigarettes, was nothing new to the region, but cocaine, according to the International Crisis Group, "dramatically increased the financial stakes and significantly altered the economic and political dynamics". | In the mid-2000s, northern Mali started to become an important staging post in the trafficking of cocaine from South America to Europe because of its remoteness and lack of state presence. The smuggling of other products, notably cigarettes, was nothing new to the region, but cocaine, according to the International Crisis Group, "dramatically increased the financial stakes and significantly altered the economic and political dynamics". |
| "Alleged alliances [that] developed over the years between the political elite, smugglers and drug dealers greatly undermined the country's stability and development," according to political analyst Imad Mesdoua. | "Alleged alliances [that] developed over the years between the political elite, smugglers and drug dealers greatly undermined the country's stability and development," according to political analyst Imad Mesdoua. |
| Still, one of the key unknowns in Mali and neighbouring states today is the extent of the threat still posed by the foreign-led insurgents. | Still, one of the key unknowns in Mali and neighbouring states today is the extent of the threat still posed by the foreign-led insurgents. |
| Since the liberation of Timbuktu and other northern towns, Islamic miltants have staged several attacks and suicide bombings in what the regional army commander described as the "asymmetric phase of the war". | Since the liberation of Timbuktu and other northern towns, Islamic miltants have staged several attacks and suicide bombings in what the regional army commander described as the "asymmetric phase of the war". |
| What residents of Timbuktu look forward to now, after so many months of hardship under occupation, is development, said Kounta, the tour guide. "Since the Islamists left, nothing has been done. We don't sense the presence of the state. The state is not here. I appeal to the state to work hard so that Timbuktu emerges from this obscurity." | What residents of Timbuktu look forward to now, after so many months of hardship under occupation, is development, said Kounta, the tour guide. "Since the Islamists left, nothing has been done. We don't sense the presence of the state. The state is not here. I appeal to the state to work hard so that Timbuktu emerges from this obscurity." |
| Who's who | Who's who |
| MNLA National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. Tuareg group that launched an offensive in northern Mali in January 2012. Unilaterally declared the independence of "Azawad" on 6 April 2012. Subsequently sidelined by groups named below. Signed ceasefire with government on 18 June 2013. | MNLA National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. Tuareg group that launched an offensive in northern Mali in January 2012. Unilaterally declared the independence of "Azawad" on 6 April 2012. Subsequently sidelined by groups named below. Signed ceasefire with government on 18 June 2013. |
| AQIM Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. Has been present in northern Mali for a decade, training Islamist fighters and trafficking contraband. | AQIM Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. Has been present in northern Mali for a decade, training Islamist fighters and trafficking contraband. |
| MUJAO Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa. Regional Islamist militant group, splinter of AQIM. | MUJAO Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa. Regional Islamist militant group, splinter of AQIM. |
| Ansar Dine Malian Islamist group formed in 2012 whose name means "defenders of the faith". Led by Iyad Ag Ghali. | Ansar Dine Malian Islamist group formed in 2012 whose name means "defenders of the faith". Led by Iyad Ag Ghali. |
| MIA Islamist Movement of Azawad. Broke away from Ansar Dine this year, saying it rejected extremism and terrorism. | MIA Islamist Movement of Azawad. Broke away from Ansar Dine this year, saying it rejected extremism and terrorism. |
| MAA The Arab Movement of Azawad. Formerly the National Liberation Front of Azawad. Founded in 2012 to resist MNLA takeover of Timbuktu. | MAA The Arab Movement of Azawad. Formerly the National Liberation Front of Azawad. Founded in 2012 to resist MNLA takeover of Timbuktu. |
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