January 21, 2013 - Diabaly, Mali: Local merchants at a stall in Diabaly market, a day after Mali government troops regain control of the city. Diabaly was under islamist militants control since the 14th of January.<br />
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Several insurgent groups have been fighting a campaign against the Malian government for independence or greater autonomy for northern Mali, an area known as Azawad. The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), an organisation fighting to make Azawad an independent homeland for the Tuareg people, had taken control of the region by April 2012.<br />
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The Malian government pledge to the French army to help the national troops to stop the rebellion advance towards the capital Bamako. The french troops started aerial attacks on rebel positions in the centre of the country and deployed several hundred special forces men to counter attack the advance on the ground. (Paulo Nunes dos Santos)