With a secessionist movement carving the nation in half and a military coup leading to a region-wide array of sanctions, Mali has seen its fair share of troubles so far this year. This could just be the tip of the iceberg, however, as the UN Security Council is now discussing whether or not to back an African Union invasion.

ECOWAS, the West African regional body, is seeking approval for a joint invasion of their own forces and those of the African Union aimed at “upholding the territorial integrity” of Mali as well as fighting “terror.”

ECOWAS began mobilizing its military in earnest in May, with both Mali and Guinea-Bissau seen as likely targets, as both have seen coups against regimes friendly to the ECOWAS leadership.

The invasion force will face an uphill battle in Mali, trying not only to impose a new friendly regime on the nation but reclaiming Azawad, the northern half of the country, which has been operating effectively as an independent nation since Tuareg rebels broke free and routed the Malian military.

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