UCLA

In current discourse on the political state of Mali and the country's recent coup in 2012, little attention is paid to the connection between former French colonial rule and Mali's ongoing national identity challenges. Specifically, are the motivations for the most recent coup in Mali and actions by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) a desire for ethnic/regional unification, or are both related to the continuing impact of Mali's colonial past? If the latter, what does it mean, then, for France to intervene under the premise of seeking to "restore order"? And will it ever be possible to satisfy all Malian ethnic groups, including those, such as the Kel Tamasheq, that call for a separate state? Relying on op-eds, newspaper articles, books, and other relevant literature, this paper will reflect upon Mali's political history and the legacy of ethnic/cultural identities. Additionally, it will address how former French colonial rule and the 1947 shift in Mali's borders impacted Mali as well as ethnic and national contestation within Mali. In other words, I will consider how the actions of the MNLA in the aftermath of the 2012 coup explain the above questions and shed light on the events surrounding Mali's recent coup and how they are linked to Mali's ongoing national identity development. Finally, the paper's conclusion will reflect upon whether or not the 2012 coup has created a stronger sense of Malian national identity and whether or not Mali will ever be able to become a completely united state.