Movement for the Salvation of Azawad

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Movement for the Salvation of Azawad
Mouvement pour le salut de l'Azawad
Leaders	Moussa Ag Acharatoumane (founder) Assalat Ag Habi (military commander)
Dates of operation	2 September 2016 (2016-09-02) – present
Split from	National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)
Active regions	Gao Region, Kidal Region
Ideology	Tuareg nationalism Secularism
Political position	Azawad self-determination
Size	3,000[1]
Allies	State allies  France French Army  United Nations Non-state allies GATIA
Opponents	Al-Qaeda JNIM  ISIL Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Battles and wars	Northern Mali conflict Battle of In-Delimane Battle of Tabarde Ménaka offensive
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The Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (French: Mouvement pour le salut de l'Azawad; abbreviated MSA) is a Tuareg political movement and armed group in Azawad, Mali. It was founded on 2 September 2016 by Moussa Ag Acharatoumane.^[2]

History[edit]

The MSA was founded on 2 September 2016^[2] in Tin-Fadimata, north of Ménaka, by former members of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).^[3]

With French support, a joint-operation was conducted by the MSA and the Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (or GATIA) on 23 February 2018 to capture or kill Malian ISIL commander Abu Walid al-Sahrawi. Six ISIL militants were killed in the ensuing clashes, but Al-Sahrawi survived and evaded capture.^[4]

MSA and GATIA troops battled ISIL militants from 2 to 5 June 2018. ISIL commander Almahmoud Ag Akawkaw was captured, while Amat Ag Assalate was killed during the battle.^[5]

References[edit]