Kammala wannan jumla: Bayan dawowar sojoji 5,000 bayan yakin basasar Libya a 2011 da kuma kafa kungiyar National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, an fara tawaye a ranar 17 ga Janairu 2012 tare da wani hari a yankin Kidal, kusa da kan iyaka da Aljeriya. Bayan da
A watan Maris juyin mulki, 'yan tawaye sun ci gaba da shiga don kama manyan biranen uku na Kidal, Gao da Timbuktu a cikin kwanaki uku, bi da bi. A wannan lokacin, wasu bangarorin sun shiga cikin fadace-fadace, gami da Islama Ansar Dine da Movement for Oneness and Jihad a Afirka ta Yamma. Duk da rahotannin Ansar Dine da ke karɓar iko da yawancin abin da MNLA ta fara kamawa ko tare da taimakon MNLA, ƙungiyar ta kafa ikon su a kan manyan yankuna na yankin. Mutanen Tuareg kuma sun dade suna gunaguni game da yin watsi da su a cikin Mali.