Mali: The Ecology of Insurgency, Terrorism and Small Arms Proliferation

Abstract

A major part of Mali’s problem stemmed from the civil war in Libya in 2011 and the country’s porous borders which have ensured the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) in the country. Though the north of Mali has been home to organised crime syndicates and jihadists, events from 2011 took this to an entirely new level such that involvement in organised crime is seen as a norm and the rivalries between syndicates and the communities that support them have become intensely violent. This has paved way for the increased militarisation of the area and the abundance of SALWs therein. How did this begin, and what factors fuelled its spread? To answer these questions, this chapter traces the development of Mali’s conflict from colonial times to modern day, and how this has shaped ethnic divisions that have bred distrust and violent confrontations overtime. Beyond Mali’s colonial influence, this chapter contends that the problem of SALWs in the country is compounded by inept governance that led to large ungoverned spaces. Filling these spaces and bringing with them conflict and chaos were terrorist groups from the Middle East and North Africa, and drug cartels from South America. With Mali serving as a convenient conduit to the rest of West Africa for these groups, their activities and influence have rubbed off adversely on the country’s northern and central areas as the proliferation of SALWs creates a debilitating culture of violence and crime—a new way of life for the region.