The African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) was an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organized military mission sent to support the government of ECOWAS member nation Mali against Islamist rebels in the Northern Mali conflict. The mission was authorized with UN Security Council Resolution 2085, passed on 20 December 2012, which "authorizes the deployment of an African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) for an initial period of one year.[1] The AFISMA mission transferred its authority to MINUSMA on 1 July 2013, that is, AFISMA mission ended and MINUSMA mission began, with AFISMA troops becoming MINUSMA troops.[2]
Initially, the mission was to begin in September 2013, but after an unexpected advance by the rebel forces in early January 2013 and the subsequent French intervention, ECOWAS decided to immediately deploy the AFISMA forces. On 17 January, Nigeria began deploying air and ground forces to Mali.[3][4] The Nigerian deployment was followed by the arrival of a 160-man contingent from Burkina Faso the following week.[5] The first commander of AFISMA is Nigerian Major General Abdulkadir Shehu.[6]
Meanwhile, the heads of state and government of ECOWAS have endorsed Major General Shehu of Nigeria as Force Commander and Brigadier General Yaye Garba of Niger as Deputy Force Commander.
On January 31, the United States Department of State estimated that there were about 1,400 AFISMA troops from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Chad on the ground in Mali.[7]
The following forces have been committed to AFISMA:
| Country | Personnel | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
 Benin
|
300
| |
 Burkina Faso
|
500
| |
 Burundi
|
unknown
| |
 Cape Verde
|
unknown
| |
 Chad
|
1,800[8]
| |
 Gabon
|
900
| |
 Gambia
|
1 military police platoon and 1 infantry company[9]
| |
 Ghana
|
120 - Engineer Company
| |
 Guinea
|
144
| |
 Guinea-Bissau
|
unknown
| |
 Ivory Coast
|
500
| |
 Liberia
|
1 platoon[10]
| |
 Niger
|
500
| |
 Nigeria
|
1,200[11]
|
Reportedly includes elements of 333 Battalion.[12] Also deployed Mi-35 helicopters, and two Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jets.[13] |
 Rwanda
|
unknown
| |
 Senegal
|
500
| |
 Sierra Leone
|
500
|
'Maintenance battalion' (Xinhua News Agency)[14] |
 South Africa
|
unknown
| |
 Tanzania
|
unknown
| |
 Togo
|
500
| |
 Uganda
|
unknown
| |
| AFISMA Total: | 7,464
|
- ^ https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sc10870.doc.htm UN-Resolution 2085 (2012)
- ^ https://www.peaceau.org/en/article/afisma-transfers-its-authority-to-minusma AFISMA Transfers its Authority to MINUSMA
- ^ "Dancing Nigerian troops prepare for Mali combat". BBC. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Nigeria: Air Force Sends War Planes to Mali Thursday". This Day. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Burkinabe troops join French-led push against Mali rebels". Reuters. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ^ "Mali conflict: West African troops to arrive 'in days'". BBC News. 15 January 2013.
- ^ "allAfrica.com: Mali: U.S. State Department Daily Press Briefing: Mali". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ "Mali conflict: 'Many die' in Ifoghas mountain battle". BBC News. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ "Gambia: Britain to Train Gambian Soldiers Bound for Mali Mission". The Point. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ^ "Liberia: Ellen - Liberia Will Send Troops to Mali for Peace Mission". Heritage. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ^ "Mali army retakes key town from rebels". Al Jazeera English. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ "The Sun News Nigeria goes to war in Mali". Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2013-01-19., January 18, 2013
- ^ "Nigeria: Air Force Deploys Two Alpha Jets to Mali". This Day. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ^ "APA - Int'l Support Mission for Mali to begin operations on Friday". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 17 November 2014.