Mali

The country of Mali has many ethnic groups including Tuareg camel herders in the northern Sahara zone, Fulani cattle herders in the Sahel zone, and Bambara farmers in the southern Savannah. The country has been in turmoil since January 2012 when Al Quaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb (AQIM) and Tuareg groups obtained arms from the fallen Khaddafi regime in Libya and attacked army bases in northern Mali. Over 300,000 refugees fled the fighting into neighboring countries and into the south of Mali. Soldiers in the capital, Bamako, mutinied and overthrew the government in March. The extreme Salafi jihadist factions among the Tuaregs got the upper hand and took control of the entire north of Mali including Timbuktu and Gao, and proceeded to enforce their interpretation of sharia law. The small Christian minority in Timbuktu and Gao left everything and fled to the south. A transitional government was soon set up, but political tension remained high and the interim President was attacked and seriously injured.

This crisis came on top of a serious food insecurity situation due to drought in 2011. World Renew has been working in Mali since 1985 with a focus on food security among several people groups in three areas of the country. This work has been able to continue for the most part, since those areas are not under control of the jihadists. World Renew has been able to assist the refugees who fled from Timbuktu and Gao with trauma healing training and practical helps such as food and mattresses. Since the security situation in Mali is evolving and uncertain, World Renew does not give names and locations of our staff and partners in Mali.