Reflecting on the Ways Forward in Mali, Part I

Abstract

The past 18 months have been a tumultuous time in Mali. A coup d’état was staged by disgruntled military personnel in March 2012, putting an end to nearly 20 years of procedural democracy. The weak state apparatus then lost control of the northern two-thirds of the country to a variety of rebel groups with different agendas, including Tuareg separatists, Islamists, drug traffickers, and al-Qaeda affiliates. With rebel groups pushing south in January 2013, the French military intervened, eventually reclaiming the major northern cities for the Malian state. While relative calm appears to have been restored as of the spring of 2013, the highly fluid nature of the situation, and a myriad of unresolved questions, makes the way forward extremely unclear. This roundtable assembles a variety of academics and policy makers working in different areas, and from different perspectives, in Mali. Among the many questions to consider include: the restoration of a legitimate government in Bamako, the future role and character of the Malian military, the prospect of race and ethnicity in Malian society, the level of autonomy or status of the northern provinces (regions), the potential for Malian civil society (including the arts), and the future of the Malian state’s relationships with other governments, including, France, the USA, Arab states, and West African neighbors. In sum, this roundtable is about building a durable peace, responsible government and vibrant civil society in Mali.