Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies

Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies
	Groupe autodéfense touareg Imghad et alliés Participant in the Northern Mali conflict
Active	14 August 2014 – present
Ideology	Imghad Tuareg interests
Political position	Pro-Malian government; Malian sovereignty over Azawad
Leaders	El Hadj Ag Gamou; (military commander); Fahad Ag Almahmoud; (secretary general)
Headquarters	Somewhere between the Gao and Kidal regions
Area of operations	Gao Region, Kidal Region
Size	500–1,000[1]
Part of	Platform of Self-Defense Movements
Allies	State allies Mali Malian Army; ; France French Army; ; Non-state allies Arab Movement of Azawad; Movement for the Salvation of Azawad;
Opponent(s)	Al-Qaeda JNIM; ISIL Islamic State in the Greater Sahara;
Battles and war(s)	Northern Mali conflict Battle of In-Delimane; Battle of Tabarde;
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The Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (French: Groupe autodéfense touareg Imghad et alliés, abbreviated GATIA) is an armed group in Azawad, Mali. Many of its 500 to 1,000 fighters[1] are Imghad Tuaregs, and the group supports the Malian government and army.[2]

History

GATIA was founded on 14 August 2014[3] as a self-defense group of armed locals, in response to the Malian Army's defeat in the 2nd Battle of Kidal on 21 May 2014 by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).[4]

In collaboration with French forces, GATIA and the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) launched a joint-operation on 23 February 2018 to capture or kill Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the ISIL commander in Mali. Sahrawi managed to evade capture, but six ISIL militants were killed in the clashes.[5]

GATIA-MSA forces clashed with ISIL militants from 2 to 5 June 2018. ISIL commanders Almahmoud Ag Akawkaw was captured, while Amat Ag Assalate was killed during the battle.[6]

Ideology

GATIA is a pro-Malian government group, and is opposed to the MNLA and an independent Azawad.[2][3]

References

Ahmed, Baba (29 April 2016). "Mali : le business du cantonnement ? – JeuneAfrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2018.
"Nord du Mali: naissance d'un groupe armé opposé à l'autodétermination - RFI". RFI Afrique (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2018.
"Un nouveau groupe armé créé par des Touareg dans le nord du Mali Bamako Mali". AFP via Malijet (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2018.
"Mali: Kidal aux mains des rebelles, appel présidentiel au cessez-le-feu". ladepeche.fr (in French). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
"Tuareg militias battle Islamic State-loyal militants in northern Mali - FDD's Long War Journal". 25 February 2018.
"Une alliance Touareg revendique plus d'opérations contre l'EI dans le Grand Sahara dans le nord du Mali". Intellivoire (in French). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.

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[JA290416-1] Ahmed, Baba (29 April 2016). "Mali : le business du cantonnement ? – JeuneAfrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2018.

[RFI9618-2] "Nord du Mali: naissance d'un groupe armé opposé à l'autodétermination - RFI". RFI Afrique (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2018.

[Malijet-3] "Un nouveau groupe armé créé par des Touareg dans le nord du Mali Bamako Mali". AFP via Malijet (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2018.

[4] "Mali: Kidal aux mains des rebelles, appel présidentiel au cessez-le-feu". ladepeche.fr (in French). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2018.

[5] "Tuareg militias battle Islamic State-loyal militants in northern Mali - FDD's Long War Journal". 25 February 2018.

[6] "Une alliance Touareg revendique plus d'opérations contre l'EI dans le Grand Sahara dans le nord du Mali". Intellivoire (in French). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.