As the people of Mali were preparing for elections, they were caught unawares by a military coup on March 21, 2012, and the threat of partition of north Mali. 
Wakati wananchi wa Mali wakiwa wanajiandaa na uchaguzi, walishangazwa na mapinduzi ya kijeshi mnamo 21, 2012 , na tishio la kujitenga kwa sehemu ya kaskazini ya nchi hiyo.