Case study: Mali
Contact person: Mariam Maiga
Title: Lutte contre le Terrorisme au Mali: Gestion, Prévention et une Mobilisation pleine et entière de la Société Civile [Fight against terrorism in Mali: management, prevention and a full mobilization of civil society]
Description:
This research looks at the perspectives of civil society groups and actors on counterterrorism policies and measures in Mali.
The northern regions of Mali—including cities like Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, which are located in border areas with Algeria, Niger and Mauritania—have been characterized by acute insecurity, often manifested in high levels of armed robbery, ethno-religious militias, kidnapping and other inter-group clashes. All this is against the background of pervasive poverty, continuous low intensity conflicts and an extremely vast and poorly policed territory.
In recent years, new security threats such as drug trafficking and the penetration of terrorist groups, notably the al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) have emerged. This has made Mali another frontier in the global struggle against transnational terrorism, and Mali is now a recipient of external assistance to combat terrorist groups. While the presence of AQIM in Mali has created important local and international security concerns, there are also old forms of insecurity, peculiar to local communities. The combination of old and new insecurities has fuelled increased demand and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
The central focus of the research is to examine the role of civil society on counterterrorism policy and measures in Mali. It also seeks to document civil society perspectives on these issues, noting the difference in perception between the people of the north and the authorities resulting in the fact that people deal with rebellion and acts of armed banditry that the government calls terrorism. It aims to profile the lack of involvement of civil society and its impact on counterterrorism and highlight and the potential for civil society involvement and contribution for counterterrorism.
Launch event
“The Fight against Terrorism in Mali: Management, Prevention and the Full Mobilization of Civil Society"
Venue: November 1, 2011, Bamako, Mali
Organized by the Coalition Nationale de la Société Civile pour la Paix et la Lutte contre la Prolifération des Armes Légères (CONASCIPAL) in partnership with SIPRI, this seminar will include presentations by Dr Mariam D. Maiga, author of the study on the role of civil society in addressing the problem of terrorism in Mali, and Professor Boubacar N’Diaye of the College of Wooster, Ohio, USA, and the African Security Sector Network (ASSN). It will also include representatives of relevant government ministries, academia and Malian civil society organizations (CSOs). The seminar will be followed by a one-day training on security sector issues. The seminar and training will take place within the framework of the SIPRI-OSI ASG project.
Download a summary of the case study here: English or French.
For more information, contact Mariam Maiga, CONASCIPAL, or Wale Ismail or Elisabeth Sköns, SIPRI.
