✦ History

Mali War

January 16, 2012

Conflict that began with a Tuareg rebellion and an Islamist takeover of northern Mali. French forces intervened in 2013; a jihadist insurgency and military coups followed.

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Battles and events 14

January 17, 2012
Tuareg rebellion (2012) Azawad
March 21 – April 8, 2012
2012 Malian coup d'état Bamako
June 27, 2012
Battle of Gao Gao Abubakar Shekau, Mokhtar Belmokhtar
January 10–18, 2013
Battle of Konna Konna François Hollande, Dioncounda Traoré, Iyad Ag Ghaly
January 11, 2013 – July 15, 2014
Operation Serval Malian/French victory Mali François Hollande, Mahamat Déby, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
January 14–21, 2013
Battle of Diabaly Diabaly
February 18 – March 31, 2013
Battle of Ifoghas French/Chadian victory Tessalit Mahamat Déby, Iyad Ag Ghaly
February 23, 2013
Battle of In Khalil French-Azawad victory In Khalil
March 1, 2013
Battle of Imenas French-Malian victory Gao
March 24, 2013
Fifth Battle of Gao French-Malian Victory Gao
August 1, 2014 – November 9, 2022
Operation Barkhane Failure of French forces in suppressing jihadists Sahel François Hollande, Emmanuel Macron, Honoré Traoré
August 18, 2020
2020 Malian coup d'état
May 24, 2021
2021 Malian coup d'état
July 25–27, 2024
Battle of Tinzaouaten (2024) CSP/JNIM victory Tinzaouaten

Key commanders

Mali 15

François Hollande belligerent leader Emmanuel Macron belligerent leader Vladimir Putin belligerent leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta belligerent leader Abdoulaye Maïga belligerent leader Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga belligerent leader Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga belligerent leader Assimi Goïta belligerent leader Bah Ndaw belligerent leader Amadou Sanogo belligerent leader Dioncounda Traoré belligerent leader Amadou Toumani Touré belligerent leader Sadio Camara military commander Mahamat Déby military commander Édouard Guillaud military commander

Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa 2

Iyad Ag Ghaly military commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar military commander

France and allies 47

François Hollande belligerent leader Emmanuel Macron belligerent leader Honoré Traoré military commander Michel Kafando belligerent leader Yacouba Isaac Zida belligerent leader Chérif Sy belligerent leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba belligerent leader Blaise Compaoré belligerent leader Roch Marc Christian Kaboré belligerent leader Ibrahim Traoré belligerent leader Gilbert Diendéré belligerent leader Luc-Adolphe Tiao belligerent leader Christophe Joseph Marie Dabiré belligerent leader Albert Ouédraogo belligerent leader Lassina Zerbo belligerent leader Paul Kaba Thieba belligerent leader Albert Pahimi Padacké belligerent leader Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet belligerent leader Saleh Kebzabo belligerent leader Idriss Déby military commander Mahamat Déby military commander Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta belligerent leader Choguel Kokalla Maïga belligerent leader Moctar Ouane belligerent leader Moussa Mara belligerent leader Boubou Cisse belligerent leader Abdoulaye Maïga belligerent leader Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga belligerent leader Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga belligerent leader Assimi Goïta belligerent leader Bah Ndaw belligerent leader Mohamed Salem Ould Béchir belligerent leader Mohamed Ould Bilal belligerent leader Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf belligerent leader Ismail Ould Bedde Ould Cheikh Sidiya belligerent leader Yahya Ould Hademine belligerent leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz belligerent leader Mohamed Ould Ghazouani military commander Mahamadou Issoufou belligerent leader Mohamed Bazoum belligerent leader Brigi Rafini belligerent leader Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou belligerent leader Manuel Valls belligerent leader Bernard Cazeneuve belligerent leader Édouard Philippe belligerent leader Jean Castex belligerent leader Élisabeth Borne belligerent leader

Mali and allies 2

François Hollande belligerent leader Dioncounda Traoré belligerent leader

Boko Haram 3

Iyad Ag Ghaly military commander Abubakar Shekau military commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar military commander