Mali

Violence in central Mali has taken the form of reprisal attacks primarily between ethnic Fulani and Dogon communities

The Tuareg ethnic group crosses many borders in the Sahara-Sahel region and has led several rebellions

The past year has seen Islamic State lose control of its caliphate, and al-Qaida seems diminished

Fulanis, a mainly pastoralist ethnic group, are increasingly involved in conflicts across West Africa

Levels of inter-communal violence have risen steadily in the past six months

The EU, France and the UN are turning their attention to rising violence in central Mali

A new ostensibly ethnically motivated attack is only the latest in a string of apparent reprisals

Domestic political tensions dominate the picture, as regional states struggle with longstanding reform challenges