African Union

==== Mali ====
[[File:GSPC map.png|thumb|[[Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb]] (formerly [[Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat|GSPC]]) area of operations]]
In March 2012, a military coup was staged in Mali, when an alliance of Touareg and Islamist forces conquered the north, resulting in a coming to power of the Islamists. This resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Malian soldiers and the loss of control over their camps and positions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Robyn |last2=Labous |first2=Jane |title=Gains of Mali's Tuareg rebels appear permanent, analysts say |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/04/world/la-fg-mali-tuaregs-20120404 |website=Los Angeles Times |date=4 April 2012 |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=10 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910090629/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/04/world/la-fg-mali-tuaregs-20120404 |url-status=live }}</ref> After a military intervention with help from French troops, the region was in control of the Malian army. To reinstall local authorities, the AU helped to form a caretaker government, supporting it and holding presidential elections in Mali in July 2013.<ref name="dandc.eu">Bernadette Schulz, Ruth Langer, [http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/african-peace-and-security-architecture-already-proving-useful-even-though-it-still-work "Peace missions – The long haul"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718202114/http://www.dandc.eu/en/article/african-peace-and-security-architecture-already-proving-useful-even-though-it-still-work |date=18 July 2014 }}, D+C, 27 August 2013.</ref>

In 2013, a summit for the African Union was held and it was decided that the African Union was going to enlarge their military presence in Mali. The AU decided to do this because of increasing tensions between al-Qaeda forces and the Mali army. There have been several rebel groups that are vying for control of parts of Mali. These rebel groups include the [[National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad|National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)]], the National Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLNA), Ganda Koy, Ganda Izo, [[Ansar al-Din Front|Ansar ad-Din]], and [[Al-Qaeda]] in the [[Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb|Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)]]. AU forces have been tasked with counterinsurgency missions in Mali as well as governing presidential elections to ensure as smooth a transition of power as possible.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Besancon |first1=Marie |last2=Dalzell |first2=Stephen |date=June 2014 |title=The Soldier and the Street: East African CIMIC in Somalia and Beyond. |journal=PRISM Security Studies Journal |volume=5 |pages=117–135 }}</ref>
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