File talk:Northern Mali conflict.svg

Gao
Please update: the MNLA have taken Gao as of Mar 31/Apr 1 (depending on time zones). See here:. Thank you Metaknowledge ( talk ) 00:39, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

Please update again: MNLA/Ancar Dine have taken Tombouctou as of Apr 1. See here:. Thank you - Metaknowledge ( talk ) 16:22, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

Also taken: Ber, Mali. See here (Français): Thank you Metaknowledge ( talk ) 21:04, 1 April 2012 (UTC)


 * Thanks! Time for me to sleep now, but I'll check on it tomorrow, if someone else hasn't already updated it... Evzob ( talk ) 21:13, 1 April 2012 (UTC)
 * More to come, I'm thinking. Here they've taken Niafunké:, and here's a citation that says they've taken Tinzaouaten: . Thanks for all your work - I don't even know how to edit a file! Metaknowledge ( talk ) 21:18, 1 April 2012 (UTC)
 * Alright, I've taken a look at those sources. Niafunké definitely seems to have been attacked, but I can't find a source clearly stating that it was actually captured or held. Tinzaouaten is already marked as rebel-held on the map. As for Ber, I'm still looking for a neutral source. That link goes to the MNLA rebel group's own website. Evzob ( talk ) 08:18, 2 April 2012 (UTC)


 * And thanks for your appreciation of the map work - I usually edit with Inkscape Evzob ( talk ) 08:18, 2 April 2012 (UTC)

Niafunke, Diré and Goundam are taken by the rebells. I don't have a source, but contact to some people there. There is no town left in teh north that is controlledby the Malien government or military (as all recent sources about the region tell). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.152.133.128 (talk • contribs)


 * If you can show me a source saying that these towns are actually occupied by rebel forces, I'll change it. The truth is though, this map could be considered a bit obsolete at this point, since as you mentioned, Malian forces have withdrawn from the entire north, plus it's not clear who really controls many of the cities and towns (MNLA, Ansar Dine, no one?) Evzob ( talk ) 14:40, 7 May 2012 (UTC)

now that MNLA and Islamists are split...
Which does red represent, and which grey? The map is not clear. Since they are different groups with very different aims, can they be put in different rows, specifying which color burst means which group?--Kintetsubuffalo ( talk ) 15:06, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

I agree. In fact, there probably shouldn't be two colors at all - the situation has changed a lot, and the MNLA rebels aren't known to control any towns at all anymore. Should we revert it? Evzob ( talk ) 16:07, 8 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Or maybe it should have just one color, but the legend/title just needs to be changed to reflect that it's not the MNLA being depicted anymore. Evzob ( talk ) 16:12, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

the date on the map
needs changed--Kintetsubuffalo ( talk ) 11:48, 12 January 2013 (UTC)

Map
It would be nice to improve the map showing the area bombing of the French Air Force. --Abdel-31 (talk) 18:55, 14 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Thats not a bad idea but i think it fits more in Operation Serval rather than the main page.

--Liquidinsurgency (talk) 01:30, 16 January 2013 (UTC)
 * This is a map in French for helping you: http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/koolwolf/Mali-carte-new.jpg --Abdel-31 (talk) 18:25, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

The map is incorrect, it shows all towns as controlled by islamist - this is wrong many are controlled by MNLA! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tomstewiki (talk • contribs) 18:23, 18 January 2013 (UTC)

Split the image
This image was designed, and still appears to be for, a map of the Tuareg rebellion. The current situation is quite different. There is no more independence movement, the Islamists want an Islamic Mali, so having something such as "Area claimed" in a map involving Islamist control is wrong. It also no longer makes any sense to group the MNLA and the Islamists, as they are no longer allied, and the MNLA have lost the population centres anyway. I suggest this file is moved back to the end of the Tuareg rebellion, when they unilaterally declared a ceasefire, and the latest one uploaded under a new title, such as "Mali Islamist conflict" or something similar (no real preference on what it's called). Chipmunkdavis ( talk ) 18:41, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Diabali/Diabaly
14 Jan 2013: en:Diabaly. Boud ( talk ) 21:45, 14 January 2013 (UTC)
 * ✅ --Futuretrillionaire ( talk ) 17:13, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Douentza
en:Douentza: Defence Minister Le Drian announces Douentza retaken by Malian forces with French support: Liberation, Le Figaro - both cite a single Ministry communique. Boud ( talk ) 16:23, 21 January 2013 (UTC)
 * ✅ --Futuretrillionaire ( talk ) 17:12, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Airstrikes - map
Anyone else think the map currently looks as if the French are bombing their own towns? --U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 06:26, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure why the airstikes were added in the first place. Are they suppose to indicate recent airstrikes, or all airstrikes? --Futuretrillionaire (talk) 16:12, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
 * No idea. I vote the airstrike symbols be deleted. In most conflict infoboxes only areas of control are shown.--U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 16:39, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I would like the airstrike symbols to be removed from the map since this distracts from the main purpose; to show who holds what. Also, I would like to ad a green (mali green) spiked thingie around government held towns. Any objections?--U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 23:24, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Sure. That's fine with me. --Futuretrillionaire (talk) 23:44, 22 January 2013 (UTC)

Modification
I would like the airstrike symbols to be removed from the map since this distracts from the main purpose; to show who holds what. Also, I would like to ad a green (mali green) spiked thingie around government held towns. Any objections? --U5K0 ( talk ) 23:22, 22 January 2013 (UTC)


 * I updated the map with various new additions and included your suggestions. I just limited the green to the towns retaken, and made it circular to make it recognizable for color-blind people. Cheers! -- Orionist ★ talk  14:04, 23 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Wow. Great work! Just one question; could you add the sources to the Notes section on the file page or just point to where they are and we can share the load? Just so it can be clear where the info is from and so it can be updated as needed. Thanks again. It really looks awesome. --U5K0 ( talk ) 15:47, 23 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Thanks! The sources were actually dozens of articles, as there was no single source that contained comprehensive information about the situation, especially in the smaller cities. If you want to have the latest updates you can keep an eye on live update pages at news sites (Here's a very good one) or there are several journalist twitter lists you can subscribe to, where they also tweet before posting their articles. I hope that helps. Cheers! -- Orionist ★ talk  22:11, 26 January 2013 (UTC)

Quick note, the date needs updating on the map to the 26th 176.255.163.206 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 01:18, 26 January 2013 (UTC)

Ansar Dine split
A new movement has been created in Kidal See fr:Mouvement islamique de l'Azawad and FT/Reuters. It is no longer clear if Ansar Dine still controls Kidal or Menaka. Teofilo talk  14:45, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

Hombori
The French have taken Hombori:, , , etc. noclador (talk) 13:34, 25 January 2013 (UTC)


 * I tried to update the picture but it wont load. No idea why. Anyone? --U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 13:53, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Do you mean you can't upload it, or do you mean it's not updating? It's it's the latter case, see this:Bypass your cache. --Futuretrillionaire (talk) 14:25, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I've tried everything. It just won't update. Check the previous versions. The last 3 times I uploaded the same file and it always only shows up as the previous version, but never as the current one. Tell me, is Homburi green on your computer? If not, the problem is with commons. --U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 16:25, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * the last version before the current one shows Hombori in green on my PC. noclador (talk) 16:27, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Hombori is green on my computer as well. --Futuretrillionaire (talk) 17:55, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Hombori is yet purple on my computer --Abdel-31 (talk) 19:53, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Then read this and follow the instructions to fix it:Bypass your cache.--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 19:55, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Useful link! My upload may or may not have been necessary, but I think now we need to wait. There's a real technical problem at the servers: Wikipedia:Village_pump_(technical) - "This is a confirmed problem related to the eqiad migration, and operations is working on it now. Hopefully should be resolved shortly. ^demon[omg plz] 14:43, 23 January 2013 (UTC)" - The comments further down show that the problem is not solved yet. We have to be patient! Remember how many servers the WMF techies have to handle and how many users are trying to update - and read - WMF project pages!
 * "Migration" means shifting a lot of date from one software and/or hardware system to another. Let's be patient with the techies! Boud (talk) 00:35, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Eqiad refers to a data centre at Ashburn,_Virginia in order to get our US data storage physically close to the CIA at Langley,_Virginia in the north-east of the United States. Boud (talk) 00:51, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * overall plan of the eqiad migration Boud (talk) 01:01, 26 January 2013 (UTC)

Léré
French soldiers captured Léré. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/25/262489.html --77.21.26.124 (talk) 18:55, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
 * It says they are "pushing towards the town of Lere". It doesn't say they captured it.--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 19:03, 25 January 2013 (UTC)

Unnamed cities
Unnamed city in the map(in blue) are named: Labbezanga (east - south of Gao)Sources: Labbezenga, Google Maps, OpenStreetMap... I'm not sure for the other unnamed city at the west maybe: Tilemsi. --Abdel-31 (talk) 00:03, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I think someone added those unnamed towns to represent the general area controlled by the MNLA. I'm not sure if they're actual towns.--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 13:58, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Correct. There should be some MNLA camps in that general area. I moved the point near Labbezanga a bit to avoid confusion. -- Orionist ★ talk  21:58, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Ok, thank you for answering --Abdel-31 (talk) 11:52, 27 January 2013 (UTC)

MNLA
What are the sources for MNLA holding some border towns on the map? EllsworthSK (talk) 00:13, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I believe they're based on this:. The unnamed border towns are supposed to represent MNLA controlled areas.--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 13:57, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * That map was one of the sources. Other sources include an interview with the MNLA leader (French version, Arabic version) and other articles like this one (in Arabic). Points outside the cities denote general locations as it's practically impossible to know the exact positions of their forces. -- Orionist ★ talk  21:55, 26 January 2013 (UTC)

Gao now contested
noclador (talk) 13:15, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * BBC News
 * ✅ --Futuretrillionaire (talk) 14:18, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * thanks!! :-) noclador (talk) 17:11, 26 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Gao now taken -- CNN --U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 19:01, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * ✅ --Futuretrillionaire (talk) 19:41, 26 January 2013 (UTC)

Actually, it looks like the claim that Gao has been taken is contested. We might need to change this back.--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 13:43, 27 January 2013 (UTC)
 * nvm. It looks like there's video news footage of Malian troops in Gao:. --Futuretrillionaire (talk) 14:05, 27 January 2013 (UTC)

The map shows an area of Malian/French control extending SW from Gao. News reports though said the French took a bridge over the Niger, and troops moved (or were expected to move) from there to Gao (see for example http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/world/africa/france-mali-intervention.html?hpw ). This would be to the SE of Gao. Some French troops were flown in (and have parachuted in elsewhere in Mali), so the frontline may be very fluid and hard to define, but it seems there should be an indication of Malian/French control at least in some part of the area SE of Gao. MayerG (talk) 01:54, 29 January 2013 (UTC)

Léré
The French are about to enter Léré: noclador (talk) 17:40, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * ✅ -- Orionist ★ talk  21:56, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Yup, they've now reportedly captured it:.--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 13:53, 27 January 2013 (UTC)

Red border
Do we really need that red border indicating rebel-held territory? I find it very hard to edit, and it gives the misleading impression that all the rebel groups are "united".--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 19:43, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * It is necessary to show that the French and Malians are not controlling any of the vast tracts of desert in the north. If you find it hard to edit and you need to update the file, you can temporarily delete it and I'll restore it in a later update. -- Orionist ★ talk  21:48, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * But we don't know who controls which empty land. We only know who controls what cities and towns based on news reports. Theorizing where the front line is is kinda WP:OR. Also, I think readers can tell it's pretty clear that the Malians don't control the northern lands judging by the towns under Islamist control.--Futuretrillionaire (talk) 13:46, 27 January 2013 (UTC)
 * We are not doing an authoritative map as those are only found at war tables and survey departments. This is just illustrative like most maps, and I find it actually way more accurate than the conflict maps I've seen on the news. Anyway, this was simple when there were only two military columns going in defined routes, but now with two more in the east and the french hopping into Kidal, I went ahead and removed the red border. Maybe we'll now wait until we find out what area are the rebels going to be active in. Cheers! -- Orionist ★ talk  09:37, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Taoudenni

 * Do we have any sources for who is controlling the vast tracts of desert, apart from the atmosphere of our tiny planet, which refuses to drop water on the Saharan sand and instead blows some of the sand all the way to the Brazilian rainforest? Taoudenni is not marked as being controlled by a rebel group nor retaken by Malian + allied forces - and it does seem to be a well-known salt-mining centre. Who controls Taoudenni, if there's anyone there apart from the salt miners? Paragraph 4 of the Salt mining section implies (if nothing has changed much since 2007-2008) that there should be about 1000 salt miners there right now, during the northern winter. Boud (talk) 01:14, 27 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Taoudenni is not a city, it is just ruins (http://goo.gl/maps/odHRx), I do not think before they were in this area (north-west of the north) but now they are fleeing the fighting so I do not know. --Abdel-31 (talk) 11:58, 27 January 2013 (UTC)
 * The northern desert between Taoudenni, Timbuktu and Timetrine was the main area of AQIM activity prior to this conflict. Whether they've returned there or have chosen to hide in the Ifogas instead is anyone's guess. -- <b style="color:#0066CC">Orionist</b> ★ talk  09:45, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Could the label "AQMI" be corrected to AQIM? I tried to do it myself, but I'm presuming the file is protected, because I get a "You cannot overwrite this file" error. Mnmazur (talk)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: File isn't on Wikipedia, it's on Commons. You can tell because of the big box below the image but above the summary. Follow the blue link titled "[//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northern_Mali_conflict.svg description page there]". -- Red rose64 (talk) 20:46, 26 January 2013 (UTC)
 * AQMI comes from the French "Al Qaida au Maghreb Islamique" --Abdel-31 (talk) 11:54, 27 January 2013 (UTC)

Timbuktu
It seems Timbuktu is now in control by French-Mali forces. Can anyone else confirm? http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/french-malian-troops-secure-timbuktu/137629/ http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/758554.shtml http://www.euronews.com/2013/01/27/french-and-malian-forces-secure-timbuktu/ The cities in between Lere and Timbuktu lies within the road to Timbuktu, so probably in government control as well. Kadrun (talk) 18:49, 27 January 2013 (UTC)


 * There's more than one road to Timbuktu. Check google maps. --U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 18:56, 27 January 2013 (UTC)


 * The most reasonable way to Timbuktu is both Lere & Konna -> Niafunke -> Goundam -> Timbuktu. Other sources said French bombarded Islamic police department in Niafunke. Kadrun (talk) 19:05, 27 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Al Jazeera English has a reporter on site who says that the ground push came from the south-west while airborne infantry was dropped to the north of the city. --U5K0'sTalkMake WikiLove not WikiWar 11:29, 28 January 2013 (UTC)


 * You can put "contested" --Abdel-31 (talk) 19:01, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

✅- I've changed Timbuktu to contested.--FutureTrillionaire (talk) 20:11, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

It looks like the French and Malians have been fully retaken the city. --FutureTrillionaire (talk) 20:31, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

Kidal
MNLA claims to be in control of Kidal. Should it be switched to contested until confirmation? EllsworthSK (talk) 15:30, 28 January 2013 (UTC)


 * MNLA claims that they met no resistance in Kidal since all Islamist left the city, but that is their report. We probably need other sources other than MNLA to confirm. For either contested or not, I don't think it is contested. Kadrun (talk) 19:04, 28 January 2013 (UTC)


 * You can put "contested" --Abdel-31 (talk) 19:04, 28 January 2013 (UTC)


 * By contested I mean "status unknown". Contested is closest to what we have. EllsworthSK (talk) 20:08, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

I went ahead and changed Kidal and Tessalit to under MNLA control, since the MNLA claim is not contested by anyone.--FutureTrillionaire (talk) 20:13, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

En français svp
Pourquoi une carte aussi importante et sur un conflit impliquant la France est-elle en anglais ? On y compernd rien sans légende en français ! Merci de faire quelque chose — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.89.192.74 (talk) 09:25, 28 January 2013 (UTC)


 * This user want this map in French --Abdel-31 (talk) 19:18, 28 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Does anyone who can edit this map speak French? I'm afraid I don't.--FutureTrillionaire (talk) 19:57, 28 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Voilà la version française - à mettre à jour... commons:File:Mali_Azawad_rebellion_fr.svg Boud (talk) 21:08, 28 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I think the English version is the only one being frequently updated.--FutureTrillionaire (talk) 21:16, 28 January 2013 (UTC)

ECOWAS control other cities
Source: Map of France 24: http://www.france24.com/fr/files_fr/element_multimedia/image/carte%20mali%20new.JPG And 20 minutes (newspaper) : http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/dossier/mali/story/Les-islamistes-perdent-encore-du-terrain-16725479 > "Des soldats tchadiens et nigériens contrôlaient aussi les villes de Ménaka et Anderamboukane, près de la frontière avec le Niger" translation: Chadians and Nigerians soldiers controlled also the cities of Menaka and Anderamboukane, near the border of Niger.

ECOWAS control Menaka and Anderamboukane (border of Niger) --Abdel-31 (talk) 08:45, 29 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Menaka under Chad and Niger forces control. --193.49.65.10 (talk) 12:29, 29 January 2013 (UTC)


 * ✅ -- <b style="color:#0066CC">Orionist</b> ★ talk  09:06, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Fix Anéfis please
It misses an "i" and it should also have an acute accent on the "e". 146.50.144.75 (talk) 11:45, 29 January 2013 (UTC) ✅ -- <b style="color:#0066CC">Orionist</b> ★ talk  09:04, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Dire
No Islamist presence in Dire. Dire lies near the main road to Timbuktu from the south. It is most likely to be in Mali government control, but no sources say who actually controls Dire. Kadrun (talk) 18:18, 29 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I can't find any sources mentioning Malian or French military presence, but I found this report which mentions that there are no militants in Diré and that the phone service (which was cut by the militants) has been restored, which I think is a sign of being back under government control, although they don't mention any Malian military presence. I also found several tweets declaring it retaken, which is an indicator even if it's not a reliable source. It also seems that the Franco-Malian forces are not leaving garrisons in every town they pass through. AFP reported that there are no soldiers in Léré and Niafunké . For all these reason I went ahead and marked it as retaken. -- <b style="color:#0066CC">Orionist</b> ★ talk  10:13, 30 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Also, the article has some references such as mentioning that they seized control of the Niger Loop, the area alongside the curve of the Niger River flowing between Timbuktu and Gao. That would also mean Diré has been retaken. 146.50.144.188 (talk) 11:24, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Ansongo
Radio France Internationale - Les soldats tchadiens et nigériens sont quant à eux entrés ce mardi 29 janvier 2013 dans la localité d'Ansongo. - "Chadian and Nigerien soldiers entered Ansongo on 29 Jan 2013." Boud (talk) 23:46, 29 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Ansongo under Niger forces control, Menaka under Chad forces control : 1. May someone update ? --193.49.65.10 (talk) 07:38, 30 January 2013 (UTC)
 * ✅ -- <b style="color:#0066CC">Orionist</b> ★ talk  09:05, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

New map of France 24 and others news
http://www.france24.com/fr/files_fr/element_multimedia/image/Mali-carte_30-01.jpg Kidal was captured by the Malian and French forces. Tessalit is "contested". — Preceding unsigned comment added by Abdel-31 (talk • contribs) 20:02, 30 January 2013 (UTC)


 * "Des bataillons tchadiens et nigériens, partis de Gao et de Bourem, seraient cependant en route pour Kidal, signale-t-on côté malien." Translation: Chadian and Nigerian battalions, left Bourem and Gao, to go to Kidal, according to the Malian army. Source: http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130130-france-avant-garde-kidal-mali-tombouctou-islamiste-al-qaida-aqmi-ansar-dine-bamako (good source). Bourem was captured by ECOWAS. --Abdel-31 (talk) 20:10, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Control of Kidal
The MNLA asserts that Kidal is controlled by cooperating MNLA and French forces, and denies that MIA maintains any presence in the city contrary to what is being reported. Unknown if this is confirmed, but I figured it worth mentioning. Lothar von Richthofen (talk) 21:55, 30 January 2013 (UTC)


 * MNLA control confirmed by AJE. Lothar von Richthofen (talk) 19:24, 3 February 2013 (UTC)

Bourem
Bourem under Niger and Chad forces control : RFI, Le Soir. --193.49.65.10 (talk) 12:39, 31 January 2013 (UTC)

It's time to update!
Kidal are controlled: http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130202-mali-armee-tchadienne-prend-position-kidal-mnla --Abdel-31 (talk) 11:32, 3 February 2013 (UTC)

MNLA gains
MNLA claims they have menaka, move to mnla or contested control? http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/uk-mali-rebels-idUKBRE91410220130205   169.233.216.128 (talk) 17:24, 6 February 2013 (UTC)

Map Accuracy update
Malian, French & Allied troops controls most of Northern Mali, there is no town controlled by the islamists anymore, Therefore the town "Ghourma Raous" should not be listed as held by Ansar Dine but by the Allied forces. Therefore, Allied troops entered Aguelhok and Tessalit today  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Densaga (talk • contribs) 15:30, 8 February 2013 (UTC)


 * It should be deleted. The maximum extension we had with the old map, because cities retaken beeing marked! It's a stupid update! --Abdel-31 (talk) 19:27, 11 February 2013 (UTC)

Furthest extent
As the French/Malian forces have now retaken almost all of the rebel-held towns (with the taking of Kidal, Aguelhok and Tessalit, the small towns shown as remaining in rebel hands likely as much reflect incomplete information than incomplete recapture) the map is becoming progressively less informative in documenting the overall struggle. I have replaced it to show the historical holdings of the rebels, but perhaps a different style of illustrating the conflict would be better. Agricolae (talk) 03:27, 11 February 2013 (UTC)
 * Whoa...don't change this without consensus! The current situation on the ground is still fluid, especially since MUJAO seems to have entered Gao and is trying to set up a lasting insurgency there. Put something on the talk page of the image so that other people can discuss whether this is really the best idea or not before you change it like that. Ansh666 (talk) 21:18, 11 February 2013 (UTC)


 * The rebels have essentially lost control of all urban areas. I'm okay with the change.--FutureTrillionaire (talk) 21:48, 11 February 2013 (UTC)


 * The conflict has moved beyond the point where the map is useful to document it, with all of the significant towns being green, and maybe an occasional raid here or there that is over before we even hear about it. It is no longer territorial in nature.  However, a map showing the historical extent of the rebellion, and showing the different factions holding the different towns at the height of the rebellion - that gives historical perspective to the conflict that is much more useful to the article as a whole.  Remember, Wikipedia is WP:NOTNEWS - its goal is not to represent the current situation on the ground but to best tell the entire story of the conflict, and this map does that better than one where all of the towns are green and no land is shown as rebel-held. I think it would also be a good idea to create a second map using arrows to show the rebel advances, towns taken and dates, and the same in a different color to show the government/French counteroffensive, towns retaken and dates.  Again, much more informative to an article about the entire conflict than simply a snapshot of mostly-retaken settlements and anybody's guess to the north.  Agricolae (talk) 22:09, 11 February 2013 (UTC)


 * It's not a good idea. Cities on the old map are green to signify that they have retaken so we know they were in the hands of terrorists not need to see their old territory. And the war is not over, we can be shown on the map (with the cities in green) the areas of terrorists (Ifoghas, near Gao ...) --Abdel-31 (talk) 11:20, 12 February 2013 (UTC)


 * I also think that this isn't a good idea. What about this: You could put both maps in the article. One indicating the furthest extent of the rebel forces and one indicating the current progress of the war. However, the second map should be more prominent. Gromobir (talk) 13:46, 12 February 2013 (UTC)


 * I'm not sure if this information is available, but how about instead of just a bunch of green circles on the "current" map, we indicate if cities/towns/villages are held by French, AU, Malian, or MNLA troops instead of just a blanket "Mali and its allies"? That way the map could continue to be informative. Ansh666 (talk) 02:05, 14 February 2013 (UTC)

The way the map is currently being used actually constitutes a sort of misinformation... and even if not for that, this is outdated. There should be a map showing the initial control and then the changes in control, perhaps with arrows and dates... --Yalens (talk) 15:03, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

Hombori has lost its dot
146.50.145.80 (talk) 11:56, 5 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Restored. Agricolae (talk) 16:53, 8 March 2013 (UTC)