Mali Refugee Points

Mali is an extremely poor country that has been dealing with refugees and IDPs since the county gained independence from the French in 1960. The creation of new artificial borders cut off many northern nomadic groups from one another. This isolation of some ethnic groups caused these populations to leave Mali and seek refuge in neighboring countries. Mali has also experienced repeated episodes of violence and unrest, especially in the northern part of the country. In recent years, increased conflict in the region has contributed to larger IDP and refugee populations. There has been increased violence between the Malian government and groups in the north such as the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar Dine, and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) since 2007. There are also 230,000 IDPs located in Mali. Many are leaving northern cities such as Timbuktu, Gao, and Kidal for safety in southern cities that include Bamako, Segou, Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, and Mopti. The violence in the north is having an effect not just on those living in the northern area, but the greater region as a whole. Many cities in central and southern Mali are seeing an increase in the number of Malian IDPs seeking shelter. This influx of northerners into the cities may lead to further instances of violence and social unrest in urban areas if the basic needs of the IDP population go unmet by the government and humanitarian organizations and competition for local resources ensues.