The conflict between Tuareg rebels and government forces in northern Mali has displaced over 300,000 people since January, according to the UN Refugee Agency. By early April Tuareg fighters had won large chunks of Mali’s territory and declared an independent state, Azawad. Most of the refugees who’ve fled the violence to neighbouring countries are Tuaregs themselves, yet they say they’re not ready to return home. That’s because they see another danger looming: the growing influence of Islamist groups. In Burkina Faso about 60,000 refugees live in makeshift camps.
