Azawad
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Azawad (Tuareg: ⴰⵣⴰⵓⴰⴷ, Azawad; Arabic:أزواد ) is a territory in northern Mali as well as a former short-lived unrecognised state. Its independence was declared unilaterally by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in 2012 after a Tuareg rebellion drove the Malian Army from the territory. Initially their effort was supported by various Islamist groups.