Mali: Tuareg Rebel Group Seizes Border Town

Mali's National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad rebel group on Feb. 8 reportedly seized control of Tinzawatene, a town along Mali's northern border with Algeria. The rebels' capture of the town comes after weeks of fighting between the group and the Malian military. Though neither side appears capable of dealing the other a decisive military defeat, if the rebels can maintain their hold over Tinzawatene, they may be able to tap into the extensive smuggling network nearby to help sustain their movement against the equally poorly-armed Malian government forces.