By Jean-Sylvestre MONGRENIER, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute | Available in French.

The spring offensive of the National movement for the liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and its allies, the Islamists of Ansar Dine, has permitted to conquest the North of Mali in just a few days. On 2012, April, the 6th, the Azawad’s independency was proclaimed. The Tuareg’s claims must be replaced in a long term history but they should not occult the most worrying geopolitical problems in that region. From the western power’s point of view, the strategic priority is fighting against terrorism and containing the chaos logics. De facto, the “afghanisation” of Sahara and the dramatic lines that might converge must not be neglected. More generally, the dislocation of Mali means the end of the post-colonial order in Africa whereas the Greater Middle East’s revolts and uprisings already go in that direction.