Groupe Autodéfense Touareg Imghad et Alliés (GATIA)

The Groupe Autodéfense Touareg Imghad et Alliés (GATIA), is a pro-government ethnic Tuareg militia that aims to fight groups that seek an independent state of Azawad in northern Mali. GATIA was founded on August 14, 2014 and reportedly has 1,000 fighters, mostly from Tuareg and Arab communities. GATIA aims to achieve a secular Malian state and fought against the Coordination of the Movements of Azawad (CMA). On June 20, 2015, GATIA signed the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, with the Malian government and other militant groups, which would establish political and institutional reforms related to defense and security. Two months later, GATIA violated the agreement by attempting to take control of CMA territory. The group continues to clash with the CMA in 2016.