Mali was regarded as a model of African democracy until the military seized power in March 2012 and the North fell under al-Qaeda control.
The chaos that ensued led hundreds of thousands of northern Malians to flee into Mauritania in search of safety.
Mali has since returned to democracy, but the effects of 2012’s instability are still being felt. Food shortages in the south are common, and many are not guaranteed safety from and access to necessary services.