[2] GATIA was founded on 14 August 2014[3] as a self-defense group of armed locals, in response to the Malian Army's total defeat in the 2nd Battle of Kidal on 21 May 2014 by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).

[4] In collaboration with French forces, GATIA and the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) launched a joint-operation on 23 February 2018 to capture or kill Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the ISIL commander in Mali.

Al-Sahrawi survived and managed to evade capture, but six ISIL militants were killed in the clashes.

[6] On December 1, 2024, a former commander of GATIA, Fahad Ag Almahmoud, was assassinated in a drone strike by the Malian army.

[7] GATIA is a pro-Malian government group and is generally opposed to the MNLA and an independent Azawad.