Mali: Refugee Flows and Increased Hunger Point to Need for Mali Federation

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees drew attention to the increased number of refugees and internally-displaced people in Mali – a crisis deteriorating a society and economy already in disarray. Analysts point to political conflict as a root cause. The UNHCR is experienced in assisting refugees, but has not addressed the underlying political issues. Two rival Tuareg groups, the Mouvement National de Liberation de l’Azawad, or MNLA, and the Ansar Dine, controlled Northern Mali. The Ansar Dine is a fundamentalist Muslim group with the goal of creating an independent state. The MNLA had already declared its formal independence. The southern half, though more developed, still faced political instability. A military coup sought to oust the president. The African Union condemned the coup, and the military leadership eventually relinquished control. Discontent with the civilian government remained. The Taureg leaders, formally declaring their independence, were unlikely to peacefully reenter a unified state of Mali. A federal system that allows the northern region more autonomy might have been one way to appease centralists and Tuareg leaders. – YaleGlobal