The Azawad Liberation Front (in Tuareg: ⵜⴰⴶⵉⵜ ⵉ ⵙⵍⴰⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵣⵓⵠ; in Arabic: جبهة تحرير أزواد); in French: Front de libération de l'Azawad) or FLA is a political and military organization in northern Mali founded on November 30, 2024. The organization was formed after the dissolution of the Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad, and included the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA), and part of the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA) and the Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (GATIA). The organization was founded based on its demands for the independence or autonomy of Azawad.

History

The Azawad Liberation Front's formation was announced in a press release, following a meeting held between 26 and 30 November by approximately 180 officials and members of the Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP-DPA). The group declared its objective to be "the total liberation of Azawad and the formation of the Azawad Authority".[1] It adopted a new flag and called for the "self-determination" of Azawad.[1][2]

The organization was formed from the merger of four movements of the CSP into a single entity— the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA), and part of the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA) and the Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (GATIA).[3][4]

The day after the creation of the FLA, seven to eight of its leaders were killed in a Bayraktar TB2 drone strike near Tinzaouaten, including Fahad Ag Almahmoud, head of the rebel branch of GATIA, and Choguibe Ag Attaher, an amenukal of the Tuareg tribe of Idnanes.[3][4][5][6]

References

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