African-led International Support Mission to Mali

Tuareg rebellion (2012): 2012 coup Internal conflict in Azawad: Foreign intervention: 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 The African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) was an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organized military mission sent to support the government of ECOWAS member nation Mali against Islamist rebels in the Northern Mali conflict.

[2] Initially, the mission was to begin in September 2013, but after an unexpected advance by the rebel forces in early January 2013 and the subsequent French intervention, ECOWAS decided to immediately deploy the AFISMA forces.

On 17 January, Nigeria began deploying air and ground forces to Mali.

[6] Meanwhile, the heads of state and government of ECOWAS have endorsed Major General Shehu of Nigeria as Force Commander and Brigadier General Yaye Garba of Niger as Deputy Force Commander.

[7] The following forces have been committed to AFISMA: 65 soldiers have been killed during the mission: 34 Chadians,[15][16] 28 Nigerians,[17] 2 Togolese[18] and 1 Burkinabé.