A week prior to the clashes at Touzik, a pro-government militia composed of Imghad Tuaregs (considered a vassal clan of Tuaregs by northern Ifoghas Tuaregs) encroached on Kidal, the capital of Kidal region and the headquarters of a coalition of rebel Ifoghas groups, the Coordination of Azawad Movements.

[1] A resurgence in fighting between the CMA and GATIA broke out on July 30, thirty-five kilometers southeast of Kidal near the village of Touzik.

[3] The fighting began in the morning, and that afternoon, both sides received reinforcements and resumed their attacks on one another.

[5] Fahad Ag Almahmoud, the secretary-general of GATIA, claimed six CMA fighters were killed in the clashes.

[5] A September 2016 United Nations report gave a death toll of five fighters killed on both sides each, with three CMA members wounded and four captured by GATIA.