Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies

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Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies
Groupe d'autodéfense touareg Imghad et alliés
Leaders	El Hadj Ag Gamou (military commander) Fahad Ag Almahmoud (secretary general)
Dates of operation	14 August 2014 (2014-08-14) – present
Headquarters	Somewhere between the Gao and Kidal regions
Active regions	Gao Region, Kidal Region
Ideology	Imghad Tuareg interests
Political position	Pro-Malian government; Malian sovereignty over Azawad
Size	500–1,000[1]
Part of	Platform of Self-Defense Movements
Allies	State allies  Mali Malian Army  France French Army  Turkey Turkish Land Forces Non-state allies Arab Movement of Azawad Movement for the Salvation of Azawad
Opponents	Al-Qaeda JNIM  ISIL ISSP
Battles and wars	Mali War Battle of In-Delimane Battle of Tabarde Ménaka offensive
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The Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (French: Groupe d'autodéfense touareg Imghad et alliés, abbreviated GATIA) is an armed group in Azawad, Mali. Most of its 500 to 1,000 fighters^[1] are Imghad Tuaregs, and the group supports the Malian government.^[2]

GATIA was founded on 14 August 2014^[3] as a self-defense group of armed locals, in response to the Malian Army's total defeat in the 2nd Battle of Kidal on 21 May 2014 by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).^[4]

In collaboration with French forces, GATIA and the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) launched a joint-operation on 23 February 2018 to capture or kill Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the ISIL commander in Mali. Al-Sahrawi survived and managed to evade capture, but six ISIL militants were killed in the clashes.^[5]

GATIA-MSA forces clashed with ISIL militants from 2 to 5 June 2018. ISIL commander Almahmoud Ag Akawkaw was captured, while Amat Ag Assalate was killed during the battle.^[6]

GATIA is a pro-Malian government group and is generally opposed to the MNLA and an independent Azawad.^[2][3]