2012 Malian coup d'état

2012 Malian coup d'état

Mali coup d'état 2012.png Location of Mali

The 2012 Malian coup d'état was a military coup that took place in Mali on 21 March 2012, when mutinous soldiers led by Captain Amadou Sanogo seized control of the government from President Amadou Toumani Touré. The coup was primarily motivated by dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country.

Background

Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, had been experiencing increasing instability due to the resurgence of the Tuareg rebellion. The Tuareg, a nomadic Berber people, had long sought greater autonomy for the northern region of Mali, known as Azawad. The rebellion intensified in early 2012, with the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) gaining ground against the Malian military.

The Malian military, under-equipped and demoralized, was struggling to contain the rebellion. Soldiers were frustrated with the lack of support and resources from the government, leading to growing discontent within the ranks.

The Coup

On 21 March 2012, soldiers at the Kati military camp near the capital, Bamako, began a mutiny. The mutineers, led by Captain Amadou Sanogo, stormed the presidential palace and seized control of the state broadcaster. By the following day, they had declared the government dissolved and the constitution suspended.

The coup leaders cited the government's failure to adequately support the military in its fight against the Tuareg rebels as the primary reason for their actions. They formed the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State (CNRDR) to govern the country.

Aftermath

The coup was widely condemned by the international community, including the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations. ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali and called for the restoration of constitutional order.

The political instability following the coup allowed the Tuareg rebels and Islamist groups, such as Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), to make significant territorial gains in the north. This led to the declaration of independence by the MNLA for the state of Azawad, although it was not recognized internationally.

In April 2012, under pressure from ECOWAS, the coup leaders agreed to hand over power to a civilian interim government. Dioncounda Traoré was appointed as interim president, and efforts began to restore democratic governance.

Also see

• Malian Civil War
• Tuareg rebellion (2012)
• National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad
• Amadou Toumani Touré
• Amadou Sanogo