Tuhia he haere tonu mo tenei whitianga - I te 30 o Poutu-te-rangi 2012, i mau a Kidal me tana turanga hoia e te National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad hei waahanga o te tutu Tuareg mo te mana motuhake o Azawad. He kaikorero mo te ope taua o Mali
"Hei tiaki i te oranga o te iwi o Kidal, ka whakatau te mana hōia kia kaua e roa te pakanga". I hopukina a Gao me Timbuktu i roto i nga haora 48 e whai ake nei, ana i te Paenga-whawha 6, i kii te National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad i te mana motuhake o Azawad mai i Mali. I roto i te pakanga o te MNLA ngaro ratou mana ki Islamist militia. I te 30 o Hanuere 2013 ka neke nga ope French me Mali ki te taone ki te whakahoki mai i raro i te mana o te kawanatanga.