Mali has been praised for its efforts in meeting both IMF goals and those set by the West African Economic and Monetary Union, of which it is a founding member. Current projects are focused on improving Mali's revenue collection, which currently represents a small portion of their overall GDP. To address this issue, the IMF recently approved a new loan to work on improving administrative inefficiencies and combat rising fuel prices. Other areas of focus include the struggling state energy company which is currently going through financial difficulties, and vulnerability to shocks from fluctuating prices of gold, cotton, and fuel. IMF research claims that much of Mali's instability and structural issues stem from the 2012 Malian coup d'état in northern Mali. The jihadist-backed Tuareg rebellion allowed insurgents to seize control of the northern region, defeating Mali's security forces. The defeated military seized control of the weakened government leading to international condemnation. During this period of governmental transition, the separatists and jihadists were able to strengthen their control of the northern regions, further weakening the new administration. International condemnation further weakened the economy as their neighbors enforced fuel sanctions. The nation is now dependent on fuel trucks from Senegal and the Ivory Coast. Eventually, infighting amongst the separatists and rebels allowed international forces to restore order to the region and take back control from the jihadists. The situation has worsened in recent years, with more than 300 deaths in 2018. With this structural instability and governmental weakness, distribution of resources and services in the recently occupied north has been difficult. The north continues to face unrest and instability, but projects like the United Nations' MINUSMA have aimed to restore governmental control over the region and defeat the remaining rebels and insurgents. The direct impacts of the crisis include reduced economic output in services and banking, and displaced nearly 400,000 Malians. The recurrent attacks and insurgencies has hindered IMF staff's ability to implement their programs to address government reform and economic policy. In the immediate aftermath, economic growth went from an expected 5% to minus 0.8%. Security spending had to be adjusted to face the immediate threat to the nation, and as such public spending had to be dropped down. The IMF's projects to address this involve stabilization of tax revenue collection, promoting trade, and encouraging structural stability in wake of the coup. To be able to implement effective measures, they recommend increasing taxes to improve their tax-to-GDP ratio relative to their West African neighbors. In association with France and the UN, some agreements have been made between the government and the Tuareg separatists, allowing for elections to take place.