SUMMARY
Idnan Tuareg is a sub-group of the Tuareg ethnic group that follows a nomadic and pastoral lifestyle and is present across a number of countries across western and northern Africa. The Idnan Tuareg reside specifically in the desert area of southern Algeria and northern Mali. The overarching Tuareg population make up the majority of inhabitants within the northern part of Mali, followed by Arab groups, Fulani and the Songhay. Within Mali, despite some of these ethnic groups living side-by-side without issues for many years, there are distinct differences between them which led to communal conflict on occasions (see Arab Brabich - Idnan (Tuareg)). One prevailing question of contention concerns the establishment of a separate state in the northern part of Mali (see Mali: Azawad conflict). While this is something that parts of the Tuareg community have been fighting for, especially the Idnan Tuareg, sections of the Arab population and the Fulani and Songhay oppose the idea, fearing that it would mean living under Tuareg domination.
As part of the Tuareg, individuals are born into a rigid and hierarchical social system that maintains several clans and sub-groups. Consequently, the Idnan Tuareg are traditionally considered the clan responsible for craftwork, mainly as blacksmiths among the Tuareg; while other clans included the Ifogha Tuareg, who were considered “nobles”; and the Imghad Tuareg, who were considered “vassals”.
Among these sub-divisions, individual clans and sub-clans held differing levels of political power, which resulted in varying agendas and internal division. For example, the Idnan Tuareg and Ifogha Tuareg clans traditionally competed for dominance against each other. Within organized violence, this manifested in members from each clan joining the CMA and MAA respectively, which were groups competing for opposing sides on the issue of independence for the northern territory of Azawad in Mali. Many Idnan Tuaregs left their homes to fight in the Libya: Government conflict after it broke out in 2011 and they returned home afterwards newly trained and armed from the conflict. The Idnan Tuareg became closely aligned with the CMA, which began an armed campaign to gain independence for Azawad in 2012.
Colonel Mohamed Ag Najim was a notable Idnan Tuareg figure, who became a military commader in the CMA after having served in the Libyan army under ex-Libyan leader, Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi.
