Tinzawatene, Azawad – A new school, named “Hassan Ag Fagaga,” was recently inaugurated in the town of Tinzawatene. This institution, presented by its promoters as a cornerstone of the region’s development and empowerment, is situated within a complex political and security context.
A Project with Symbolic and Practical Dimensions
The school pays tribute to Hassane Ag Fagaga, former president of the interim authorities of Kidal, who was killed in 2023 in a drone strike by the Malian army. Its construction is an initiative of the Azawad Liberation Front (ALF), which also oversaw the project through its education director, Mr. Salah Ag Mohamad Ahmad.
Operationally, the school opened with six classrooms and accommodates 140 students, both girls and boys. Instruction is provided in Arabic and French. The initiative also includes a literacy program for women in the region.
A strong political vision
The project’s proponents attribute a fundamental role to education in what they call the “Azawad revolution.” They advocate the idea that an educated people is a people freed from “ignorance” and becomes more difficult to “oppress.” The school is thus presented not only as a tool for development, but also as an instrument for raising awareness and a vehicle for freedom in the face of the terrorist authorities in Bamako.
A response to concrete needs
Beyond the political rhetoric, the Hassan Ag Fagaga school addresses a critical educational need in a region plagued by instability. It educates children from Tinzawatene, as well as displaced children from the regions of Ménaka, Gao, and Kidal, thus illustrating the population displacements caused by the conflict.
This project, hailed as a “wonderful initiative” by its supporters, represents a concrete effort to maintain or restore an educational framework in an area where public services are severely disrupted. Its opening marks a significant step in local efforts to ensure the continuity of education, while remaining inextricably linked to the broader political demands shaping the region.
All the best to them and we wish them success!
Distribution of school kits for children at the Hassane Ag Fagaga primary school in Tinzawaten. Under the supervision of the Education Officer, Mr. Salah Mahamad Ahmed.
Azawad Support Group
04-11-25