Work

Confronting Rifles with Words: The High Islamic Council of Mali and Non-State Armed Groups

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Since the 2012 Tuareg rebellion and the takeover of large areas in the north of Mali by Islamic fundamentalist groups, Muslim religious leaders in the country have spearheaded important negotiation initiatives under the auspices of the High Islamic Council of Mali (HCIM). On more than one occasion, these initiatives have led to the liberation of detainees or the possibility of humanitarian convoys reaching communities caught in the midst of the armed conflict. Why were these initiatives successful (or unsuccessful)? How did religious leaders convince non-state armed groups to adopt conduct that complies with basic humanitarian norms? Drawing on desk-based and fieldwork research conducted as part of the Generating Respect Project, this article seeks to answer these questions and to identify the endogenous and contextual factors that contributed to the successes of the HCIM and its negotiators.

Source: Journal of Human Rights Practice

DOI: 10.1093/jhuman/huae040

Author: Piergiuseppe Parisi

Language: English

Topic: Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,760

Funder: Economic and Social Research Council