April 6th marks the sixth anniversary of the declaration Azawad independence from the Republic of Mali, which sought to establish an independent Saharan state with a secular and democratic government.
The declaration was announced on April 6 by Moussa ag Attaher The Spokesperson of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). The declaration was issued in French and signed by The Secretary-General of the MNLA, Bilal ag Acherif, in Gao, the largest city and served as the temporary capital.
The conflict between Bamako and Azawad is rooted in economic exploitation, a history of violent oppression, and Indigenous Saharan claims to the land, in addition, discriminatory killings targeting Tamasheq (Tuareg people) civilians on the basis of their ethnicity have been reported.
