Formation of Azawad Liberation Front deepens Sahel crisis

Four Tuareg groups in northern Mali have united as the Azawad Liberation Front, seeking self-determination for the region they call Azawad, according to a report in Arab Weekly. This move, announced on November 30, escalates tensions in the Sahel amid the breakdown of the 2015 Algiers Accords, which aimed to end Tuareg rebellions.

The new front criticized Mali's government for failing to honor agreements and accuses it of using Russian Wagner mercenaries against Azawad fighters. In September, Tuareg forces launched a counteroffensive, inflicting significant losses on Malian and Russian units, underscoring their military capability despite being labeled as terrorists by Bamako.

Observers warn that the Azawad bid for self-determination could destabilize the region further, as Tuareg communities span Mali and Algeria. The unification of Tuareg factions may pressure the military government in Bamako to resume negotiations, possibly reviving the Algiers Accords. Regional analysts point out that the conflict highlights the Sahel’s broader instability and the fragile geopolitics surrounding Mali’s reliance on external military support.