Sadly, slavery still casts its dark shadow over Mali with around 200,000 people held in slavery at the present time. Mali transitioned to a democracy a year later with Alpha Oumar Konare serving 2 terms as President, until 2002. Until they were eventually subdued in Mali by the French and the Italians in Libya, the Tuareg fiercely resisted colonisation. By April 2012, the MNLA had taken control of Northern Mali and Toure was forced to resign on 8th April 2012 following a military coup. A few years ago, the Tuareg MNLA and the Islamic group Ansar Dine merged and declared northern Mali to be the new Islamic state of Azawad.

Source: Libya Today July 13, 2023 06:36 UTC