Rival armed groups join forces against the Malian state: What next?

Mali has been navigating cycles of political instability since gaining independence from French rule in 1960, punctuated by persistent attacks from armed groups, military coups and financial crises. Coordinated attacks by armed groups across the country have exposed security vulnerabilities, with an al-Qaeda-linked group claiming responsibility for attacks on military sites, including in the capital, Bamako, and capturing the city of Kidal in the north.