SUMMARY
MAA (Mouvement Arabe de l’Azawad: Arab Movement of Azawad), after 2014 sometimes referred to as MAA-Bamako, MAA-Ahmed or MAA-Loyalist, was an ethnic Arab armed group that emerged in the context of the armed conflict in northern Mali in 2012 (see Mali: Azawad).
The population in the northern part of Mali is divided between a number of different ethnic groups, with the Tuareg people making up a majority of the inhabitants, followed by Arabs, Fulani and Songhay. There are deep divisions between these groups (as well as within especially the Tuareg community); they do not share the same culture or traditions and they have different interests and political agendas. These divisions have been exacerbated by the Malian state’s divide-and-rule tactics in the region. One distinct question of contention between these groups concerns the establishment of a separate state in the northern part of Mali. While this is something that especially parts of the Tuareg community have been fighting for, sections of the Arab population and the Fulani and Songhay oppose the idea, fearing that it would mean living under Tuareg domination.
As the separatist Tuareg rebel group MNLA (later CMA) launched its rebellion in early 2012 and together with Islamist Ansar Dine seized the northern part of the country in a lightning offensive, wealthy businessmen from the Arab community in Tomboutou initiated the formation of MAA. Initially called FNLA (Front national de libération de l'Azawad: National Liberatino Front), the group opposed both MNLA’s separatist agenda, and the hard-line Islamist ideas of Ansar Dine and fellow Islamist groups AQIM and MUJAO. MAA had support among several Arab communities, especially the Berabiche and Kunta sub-groups and it initially declared that its primary objective was to defend the interests of the Arabs of northern Mali. Furthermore, aside from physically protecting its constituency, having an armed group has historically been the way for a community to get a seat at the negotiation table in the Malian context.
The group, which numbered around 500 fighters at its inception and some 2000 in 2016, was led by Ahmed Ould Sidi Mohamed. He had been an important figure also in the conflict in northern Mali in the 1990s, when he led the Arab rebel group FIAA.
MAA’s relationship with other armed groups in the north shifted over the years. Despite initially opposing CMA’s separatist ambitions, there were early indications of links between the two groups. One reason for this may be that MAA chairman Ould Sidi Mohamed before assuming leadership of MAA had declared allegiance to MNLA (later CMA). Indeed, the two groups eventually formed a bond, but not before experiencing a spate of fighting during the first half of 2013 (see MAA-CMA). Subsequently, in the context of the two armed camps that were slowly forming in the north – Bamako-loyalists and those in favor of extensive autonomy or even independence – MAA initially sided with the latter together with MNLA and a number of other groups. However, the year 2014 saw a split in the movement, caused by the decision of Ould Sidi Mohamed to change his allegiance and side with the pro-Bamako camp. With that MAA became part of what was formalized as “Platform” in June 2014; a number of movements that sought national unity and opposed the idea of an independent northern Mali. In this loose coalition, the group was joined by e.g. CM-FPR and GATIA. With this, a faction of MAA under Sidi Ibrahim Ould Sidatti broke away, and chose to remain in the pro-independence camp. Also this camp evolved into a coalition of like-minded groups in June 2014, called CMA.
MAA has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organized violence.
