SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS: THE MALI WAR AND INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION

Abstract

The Mali War began on 16 January 2012 with the Tuareg rebellion. Skirmishes of attack are still ongoing despite the ceasefire agreement that was signed on February 19, 2015 in Algiers. The conflict was majorly between Northern Mali and Southern Mali. The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between the Tuareg rebellion and the Mali War; to assess the role played by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in intensifying the conflict; to evaluate how the intervention of the international community led by France paved the way for peace in Mali. The theoretical framework of the study is a blend of the Power Theory and the Clash of Civilization Theory. The qualitative research methodology was adopted for the study. It consists of content and documentary analysis whereby data was gathered mainly through secondary sources and reviewed. The study found out that the Mali War was caused by the Tuareg rebellion and aggression and the proliferation Small Arms and Lights Weapons aggravated the conflict. The Tuaregs were the major insurgents and aggressors. They declared war against the Malian government in a bid to secede and their grievance was independence for the Azawad or Northern Mali. Conversely the intervention by the international community led by France ameliorated the conflict. The study recommends that more states should be party to the Firearms Protocol which entered into force in July 2005. Firearms production and trade are highly lucrative businesses but this should not be sacrificed in the alters of so much bloodshed from conflicts triggered by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.