Azawad As a Self-proclaimed Tuareg State

Abstract

The author was set to find out the fundamental reasons for the separatism of the Tuareg community in the Republic of Mali. The article examines the evolution of the political identity of the Tuaregs and the consolidation of scatted nomadic tribes into a community, which aims for sovereignty within their own state. It is known that the desire for state self-determination of nomads within the self-proclaimed state of Azavad is a factor that has a serious impact on the internal political situation in the country throughout its history, starting from the time of gaining independence in the early of 60s years of last century and to the present. The study showed that the confrontation between the black majority of the population of the country and in comparison with small number of “white people of the desert” (Tuaregs, Moors, Arabs) is primarily due to the parallel existence of various “life necessities cultures” in the territory of Sahel. Relatively peaceful farmers, fishermen and hunters coexist here with the warlike nomadic cattle herders. The lands cultivated by some are considered by others to be their original pasture - lands. The author substantiates the conclusion that all acute conflict situations arising in the northern territories of Mali are ultimately conditioned by the influence of this determining factor. This determines the essence of the discriminatory policy against the Tuaregs on the part of the authorities protecting the interests of the majority, Bamako’s mistakes associated with attempts to accelerate the modernization of archaic nomadic communities. The author comes to the conclusion that the situation is complicated by the reluctance of the Elysee Palace to abandon political and economic preferences in Mali and withdraw its troops from the territory of this sovereign state, from the territory that the Tuaregs consider their ancestral lands. In his opinion, in the conditions of an acute political crisis in this country, the Tuareg’s desire for state self-determination will grow.