Kammala wannan jumla: A ranar 31 ga Maris, 2012, kwana daya bayan kama Kidal, sojojin Mali sun janye daga sansanonin sojin Gao, suna ba da damar mamaye ta.
Membobin kungiyar 'yan tawayen Tuareg MNLA da Ancar Dine. An kama Timbuktu a rana mai zuwa. A ranar 6 ga Afrilu, MNLA ta ayyana yankin a matsayin mai zaman kansa daga Mali a matsayin al'ummar Azawad. Bayan yakin Gao a ranar 26 da 27 ga Yuni 2012, MNLA ta rasa iko ga mayakan Islama.