What is Mali War?
[[File:MaliWar.svg|thumb|Situation in 2020: Goverment held territories are red, Pro-government militias are yellow, Azawad-liberaton forces are green, [[al-Qaeda]] black and smaller [[Islamist]] forces white.|alt=]] The '''Mali War''' has been ongoing since 2012. The war has three sides. One side is Mali, who are supported by many other countries. Another, many of whom are [[Tuareg people]], are [[separatist]]s who want northern Mali - which they call [[Azawad]] - to become a separate country. Northern Mali is hot [[desert]] and is in the southern part of the [[Sahara]]. The third side is [[Islamist]] groups - including [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] and [[al-Qaeda]] - who want Mali to be part of an Islamist [[caliphate]]. The [[United Nations]] has reported many [[human rights]] violations, both by the forces close to the [[government]], and by the different rebel groups. Allegedly, there have been [[amputation]]s, [[flogging]]s, and [[extrajudicial killing|extrajudicial executions]]. A couple was [[Stoning|stoned]] in 2012, for allegedly having an [[extramarital]] [[affair]]. Based on these reports, the [[International Criminal Court]] started investigations into [[war crime]]s and human rights abuses. According to the [[BBC]], about 250,000 people have left because of the fighting. They are now [[refugees]] and [[internally displaced people]]. Another problem is that [[World Heritage Site]]s are threatened by the war. There are [[mosque]]s built of mud, in [[Timbuktu]], which are threatened. In September 2021, a contract was signed between the Malian state and a private Russian military company linked to the Russian military group Wagner. The document provides for the deployment of mercenaries in the country, in liaison with the Malian army, and the protection of senior figures. The French withdrew their forces entirely on August 15, 2022, ending their presence in the country. == Related pages== *[[List of ongoing armed conflicts]] [[Category:2012]] [[Category:2013 in Africa]] [[Category:2014]] [