Since 2012 Mali has been embroiled in two parallel crises: while a military coup in March 2012 undermined the legitimacy of the country's governmental institutions, the Tuareg rebellion and armed Jihadist groups in the north called its territorial integrity and national security into question.
The international community has been helping Mali in its struggle for security, political stability and peace since these crises emerged. Even after the recent successful presidential elections, there is still a long, hard road to follow towards peaceful coexistence. The political dialogue on resolving the conflicts is just getting started. This issue of the newsletter therefore presents a picture of the current situation in the Sahel state, with governmental and non-governmental organisations reporting on their peacebuilding efforts in Mali. These insights reveal the need for root causes to be addressed in order to resolve the crises in Mali on a sustainable basis.