Movement for the Salvation of Azawad

Movement for the Salvation of Azawad
	Mouvement pour le salut de l'Azawad Participant in the Northern Mali conflict
Active	2 September 2016 – present
Ideology	Tuareg nationalism; Secularism
Political position	Azawad self-determination
Leaders	Moussa Ag Acharatoumane; (founder); Assalat Ag Habi; (military commander)
Area of operations	Gao Region, Kidal Region
Size	3,000[1]
Allies	State allies France French Army; ; Non-state allies GATIA;
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 Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (French: Mouvement pour le salut de l'Azawad; abbreviated MSA) is a Tuareg political movement and armed group in Azawad, Mali. It was founded on 2 September 2016 by Moussa Ag Acharatoumane.[2]

History

The MSA was founded on 2 September 2016[2] in Tin-Fadimata, north of Ménaka, by former members of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).[3]

With French support, a joint-operation was conducted by the MSA and the Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (or GATIA) on 23 February 2018 to capture or kill Malian ISIL commander Abu Walid al-Sahrawi. Six ISIL militants were killed in the ensuing clashes, but Sahrawi evaded capture.[4]

MSA and GATIA troops battled ISIL militants from 2 to 5 June 2018. ISIL commanders Almahmoud Ag Akawkaw was captured, while Amat Ag Assalate was killed during the battle.[5]

References

"Mali: le Mouvement pour le salut de l'Azawad, nouveau groupe politico-militaire - RFI". RFI Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 June 2018.
Carayol, Rémi (8 September 2016). "Mali – Moussa Ag Acharatoumane : « Nous avons créé le MSA pour représenter tous les Azawadiens »". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 June 2018.
Carayol, Rémi (2 September 2016). "Mali : le MNLA une nouvelle fois amputé". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 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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[1] "Mali: le Mouvement pour le salut de l'Azawad, nouveau groupe politico-militaire - RFI". RFI Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 June 2018.

[Carayol2-2] Carayol, Rémi (8 September 2016). "Mali – Moussa Ag Acharatoumane : « Nous avons créé le MSA pour représenter tous les Azawadiens »". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 June 2018.

[Carayol-3] Carayol, Rémi (2 September 2016). "Mali : le MNLA une nouvelle fois amputé". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 14 June 2018.

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

[5] "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.