Mali in the aftermath of the French military operation

The report analyzes the shift in power relations in Mali after the 2013 French military intervention, noting a 're-presidentialised' political system and a temporary decline in the influence of the 2012 military junta. It argues that while military gains in the north have been achieved, lasting stability requires inclusive reconciliation that addresses the grievances of northern communities and a credible electoral process that avoids returning to previous patterns of corruption. The author cautions against a traditional UN peacekeeping mission, suggesting a peace support operation instead, and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security sector reform and regional cooperation to counter terrorist and criminal networks.

• The French military intervention and the deployment of AFISMA shifted Mali's political landscape, leading to a 're-presidentialised' system where Interim President Dioncounda Traoré regained significant authority and the influence of the March 2012 military junta was temporarily diminished.
• There is a significant gap between international perceptions and local Malian views regarding the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA); many Malians view the group as a 'Trojan horse' for terrorist organizations and non-representative of the Tuareg people.
• Lasting stability in the north requires a proactive approach to intra- and inter-community reconciliation that includes various sociopolitical actors and avoids simply rewarding those who took up arms.
• The 2013 electoral process faces significant challenges, including the need for a consensual electoral list and the participation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and the author suggests flexibility in the timetable to ensure transparency.
• The report emphasizes that holding elections alone will not solve Mali's deep-seated governance issues, and warns that returning to old practices of corruption and greed will undermine long-term stability.

APA

Théroux-Bénoni, L.-A. (2013). Mali in the aftermath of the French military operation. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2013_18_03Mali.pdf

Chicago

Théroux-Bénoni, Lori-Anne. Mali in the aftermath of the French military operation. Institute for Security Studies, 2013. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2013_18_03Mali.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Théroux-Bénoni |first1=Lori-Anne |title=Mali in the aftermath of the French military operation |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=25 February 2013 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2013_18_03Mali.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{throuxbnoni2013mali, author = {Théroux-Bénoni, Lori-Anne}, title = {{Mali in the aftermath of the French military operation}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2013}, month = feb, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2013_18_03Mali.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }