Why did the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad declare northern Mali independent in 2012?

The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) declared the northern part of Mali independent on April 6, 2012, after taking advantage of significant political instability in the country.1

Following a military coup in March 2012 that ousted the democratically elected government, the central authority in Mali collapsed, leaving the northern region vulnerable. This situation was exacerbated by a surge in Tuareg rebel activity; many fighters had returned to Mali well-armed after participating in the 2011 revolt in Libya to support Muammar al-Qaddafi.123

Taking advantage of the power vacuum and the inability of Malian forces to effectively counter them, the MNLA and various insurgent groups gained control over the northern half of the country, including key towns such as Timbuktu and Gao. The declaration of independence was subsequently condemned by the international community.1