I te 6 o Paenga-whāwhā 2012, te National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (French acronym: MNLA) i whakapuaki i a Azawad motuhake mai i te Republic of Mali i muri i te tutu
I mua atu i tēnei, he rārangi o ētahi atu rerenga o ngā Tuareg. E kiia ana ko te Whenua Motuhake o Azawad.