On 23 November, two French nationals were kidnapped in northern Mali.
They were reported to be in control of parts of northern Mali, such as Menaka on 1 February.
The group calls for granting substantial autonomy to northern Mali.
In northern Mali, fields of millet have been overrun.
The Algerian army has also, especially in later years, been highly active along the country's border with northern Mali, where various insurgent movements are based.
A barren region of dunes and nothingness in northern Mali.
He was then arrested for trade union activities and sent to Ménaka in northern Mali.
The remaining fighters, with fifteen hostages, flee to northern Mali.
The severe climate of northern Mali does not allow much growth of vegetation.
An extremist ministate in northern Mali is the unexpected result from the collapse of the earlier coup d'etat by the angry army officers.