The United Nations Security Council has expressed “grave concern” about the situation in the northern 2/3 of Mali, also known as Azawad, which has been out of the control of the Malian regime since March, when the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NMLA), a Tuareg secessionist movement, ousted the military from the region.

Today’s resolution endorsed the idea of attacking Azawad to impose Malian rule on them in theory, and has asked the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a specific invasion plan to be delivered within 45 days.

Once the plan is delivered, the Security Council is expected to push a resolution authorizing the invasion, with the prospect of Western and African Union backing for the invasion of the region.

US officials have expressed support for the occupation of Azawad, though some Western leaders have suggested that Mali needs to hold actual elections to replace the junta-appointed “interim” government before the invasion,

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