Backgrounder: Northern Mali strife

Rebel groups in northern Mali have agreed to a ceasefire deal with the government to end fighting that was threatening to descend into all-out conflict.

The ceasefire between Tuareg rebels and the Malian government was reached on Friday with the help of the UN and the African Union. The army launched an offensive to retake the rebel stronghold of Kidal in the past week. At least 20 soldiers were killed in the clashes, as the rebels added other northern towns to their gains.

Al Jazeera tracks the background of the current conflict in northern Mali that began after a coup in 2012.