How Mali Became a Failed State: Atypical Path, Typical Results

In 2012, absolute chaos broke out in the Western African country of Mali. The events that led to Mali’s demise were downright bizarre, but unfortunately yielded all-too-common results; now, it is a failed state.

This development occurred just within the past couple years. Before 2012, Mali did have issues with poverty, inequality, and corruption, but in the grand scheme of things, few countries in the world do not. Compared to its neighbors and the continent as a whole, Mali was doing splendidly. It had a democratic regime with free and fair elections, and had successfully turned power over from one leader to another. In fact, Mali was seen as having a model government that countries throughout Africa could emulate. Though not without its problems, it was doing comparatively well.

That all changed in March 2012. The military, believing that President Amadou Toumani Touré had a weak stance on Tuareg rebels in the North (fighting for the independence of parts of Northern Mali), staged a coup d’état and overthrow the president. Surprisingly, President Touré had only a couple weeks left in his final term in office and was planning to turn power over as mandated by the constitution anyway. Also surprisingly, the military did not want to hold power. Usually, when the military (or really anyone) stages a coup d’état and seizes power, they want to keep it. The Malian military, however, truly did just want to put in place someone they believed would support them more in their fight against the rebels.

And after just a couple months, they did. In May 2012, the military returned control of the country to the government and new interim president Dioncounda Traoré. Just one problem: the Malian people didn’t like him, so much so that— and this is the strangest event yet— protesters stormed the presidential palace and assaulted the president, hospitalizing him with non-life threatening (but certainly painful) injuries. In the matter of a few months, in an entirely unpredictable and bizarre manner, Mali went from the stable beacon of democracy in the region to a failed state in crises.

The turmoil over the following months, however, was completely predictable. Mali’s fall into the status of failed state, combined with an influx of fighters and weapons from the end of the conflict in nearby Libya, fueled the uprising of terrorism in the country. Al-Qaeda came into the picture, first teaming with the Tuareg rebels the military was concerned about in the first place, then pushing them aside. The prime minister (Mali has both a president and prime minister) appointed by President Traoré was arrested by the military and forced to step down in December 2012. Right in the midst of combating Al-Qaeda, the government was dissolved and once again thrown into uncertainty. At the time, Al-Qaeda and Islamist rebels controlled much of Northern Mali and enacted Sharia law. As a result, thousands fled the area, and reports of limb amputations for petty crimes and kidnappings for ransom were widespread. Disorder and terror reigned supreme.

In 2013, French forces intervened at the plea of the Malian government and suppressed Al-Qaeda and Islamist rebel forces. Now, Mali has returned to at least a semblance of stability. Rebel groups are still a problem in the region, but France has shifted many of its troops to other countries. Though the fighting has quieted down and democracy is in place, Mali still has a long road ahead in reaching where it was pre-coup d’état. Things look cautiously promising, but it should still be considered a failed state until it proves otherwise.

Sources:

Coup d’état in Mali: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/world/africa/mali-coup-france-calls-for-elections.html?pagewanted=all

Mali’s new interim president beaten up: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/world/africa/mali-protesters-attack-interim-president-dioncounda-traore.html

Prime Minister steps down: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/malis-junta-forces-prime-minister-to-resign/2012/12/11/aa9593ca-439e-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html

Kidnappings: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/world/africa/kidnappings-fuel-extremists-in-western-africa.html?pagewanted=all

Sharia law and limb amputations: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/world/africa/islamists-harsh-justice-on-rise-in-northern-mali.html?pagewanted=all

French help: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/world/africa/mali-islamist-rebels-france.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A12%22%2C%221%22%3A%22RI%3A9%22%7D

More French help: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/world/africa/france-begins-new-anti-islamist-sweep-in-mali.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A12%22%2C%221%22%3A%22RI%3A9%22%7D

France moves troops elsewhere: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/world/africa/france-to-shift-mali-troops-to-battle-regional-terrorism-north-africa.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A12%22%2C%221%22%3A%22RI%3A9%22%7D