Editing Azawad (section)

===Northern Mali conflict===
{{Further|Northern Mali conflict}}
In January 2013, a minor insurgency began when Islamist fundamentalist groups attempted to take control of all of Mali. [[France]] and [[Chad]] sent troops in support of the Malian army. The whole Northern region was captured within a month prior to the Islamists offensive against the South. The rebels' main presence centered around their headquarters in [[Kidal]]. Islamists began slowly regrouping in the [[Adrar des Ifoghas]] mountains until the French and African coalition launched an offensive to eliminate the Islamist leadership and recover foreign hostages being held by them.
Tuareg nomadic groups such as the [[National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad|MNLA]], an Azawadi separatist group, helped retake several main towns in the North, but stayed neutral in fighting between the Islamists and the Malian army. The MNLA co-operated with the French troops, providing guides and logistical services and renting space in their military bases. However, no Malian army presence was allowed by MNLA authorities, due to accusations of Malian crimes against the Tuareg people. Despite this, the Islamists targeted MNLA checkpoints and other military installations with suicide bombers in retaliation. In-fighting also occurred when Chadian intervention forces were accused of firing upon Tuareg civilians.