There is a wide agreement among analysts on the fact that the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) is basically made up of Tuareg fighters trying to establish the first-ever independent Tuareg state in modern Africa. Most of MNLA leaders are Tuareg, just as are Tuareg the best-known advocates of an Azawadi state, the members of renowned music band Tinariwen. Does this mean that MNLA is introducing itself to the world as a proponent of an ethnic Tuareg state trying to secede from Mali? Not at all. And they would be fool if they did so. Continue reading →