The international intervention in Mali: “Desert blues” or a new beginning? 1

Islamist rebels have retreated from northern Mali; however, a number of challenges for that country remain. The Islamists have gone into hiding but have not surrendered; there is a clear risk of long-term asymmetric warfare. The populations in both northern and southern Mali are divided in their vie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal (Toronto) Vol. 68; no. 3; pp. 417 - 423
Main Authors Bøås, Morten, Torheim, Liv E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England SAGE Publications 01.09.2013
Sage Publications Ltd
Subjects
Conflicts
National security
Politics
Radical groups
Rebellions
Mali
security
Malian armed forces
asymmetric warfare
Mali
Islamist rebels
Sahel
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Summary:Islamist rebels have retreated from northern Mali; however, a number of challenges for that country remain. The Islamists have gone into hiding but have not surrendered; there is a clear risk of long-term asymmetric warfare. The populations in both northern and southern Mali are divided in their views on the best way forward. The capacities of the Malian government and the Malian armed forces to contain the conflict and retain credible leadership are questionable. This article analyses the Malian crisis with an emphasis on the strategies of key actors, including the Islamist rebels. The consequences of and responses to the conflict are discussed, before the article ends with some tentative conclusions concerning the potential for security in Mali and the Sahel region.
ISSN:0020-7020
2052-465X
DOI:10.1177/0020702013505430