Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies

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Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies
Groupe d'autodéfense touareg Imghad et alliés
Leaders	El Hadj Ag Gamou (military commander) Fahad Ag Almahmoud (secretary general)
Dates active	14 August 2014 (2014-08-14) – 30 November 2024
Headquarters	Somewhere between the Gao and Kidal regions
Active regions	Gao Region, Kidal Region
Ideology	Imghad Tuareg interests
Political position	Pro-Malian government; Malian sovereignty over Azawad
Size	500–1,000
Part of	Platform of Self-Defense Movements
Succeeded by Azawad Liberation Front

The Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (French: Groupe d'autodéfense touareg Imghad et alliés, abbreviated GATIA) was an armed group in Azawad, Mali. Most of its 500 to 1,000 fighters were Imghad Tuaregs, supporting the Malian government as a part of the Platform Alliance.

History

GATIA was founded on 14 August 2014 as a self-defense group of armed locals, in response to the Malian Army's total defeat in the 2nd Battle of Kidal on 21 May 2014 by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).

In collaboration with French forces, GATIA and the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) launched a joint-operation on 23 February 2018 to capture or kill Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the ISIL commander in Mali. Al-Sahrawi survived and managed to evade capture, but six ISIL militants were killed in the clashes.

GATIA-MSA forces clashed with ISIL militants from 2 to 5 June 2018. ISIL commander Almahmoud Ag Akawkaw was captured, while Amat Ag Assalate was killed during the battle.

On December 1, 2024, a former commander of GATIA, Fahad Ag Almahmoud, was assassinated in a drone strike by the Malian army.

In 2024, a "fringe group" of the GATIA were one of the factions that merged with other Tuareg rebel groups to form the Azawad Liberation Front.

Ideology

GATIA is a pro-Malian government group and is generally opposed to the MNLA and an independent Azawad.

References