Agacher Strip War

The Agacher Strip War was a brief 1985 armed conflict between Burkina Faso and Mali over their disputed border in the Agacher Strip.

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Agacher Strip: A narrow, sparsely populated border region claimed by Burkina Faso and Mali. Its uncertain boundary and suspected mineral resources lay at the center of the war.
Ceasefire: An agreement or order that temporarily or permanently stops hostilities between armed forces. A ceasefire halted the December 1985 fighting before the border dispute was settled.
Burkina Faso–Mali border dispute: A territorial disagreement between Burkina Faso and Mali over the location of parts of their shared boundary. The war was the most violent episode in this longer-running dispute.
December 1985: The final month of 1985 in the Gregorian calendar. The war's principal fighting took place over several days in this month.
French West Africa: A federation of French colonial territories in West Africa that existed from 1895 to 1958. The disputed frontier emerged from colonial-era boundary-making before the two states became independent.
Organization of African Unity: A continental organization founded in 1963 to promote African cooperation and unity. Its mediation helped secure a ceasefire and move the dispute toward adjudication.
African Union: A continental organization founded in 2002 to promote cooperation among African states. Its predecessor's mediation reflected an African commitment to resolving inherited borders peacefully.
Bobo-Dioulasso: A major city in western Burkina Faso and the country's second-largest urban center. It was among the areas affected during the conflict.
Burkina Faso–Mali border: The international boundary separating Burkina Faso and Mali. The war grew from disagreements over the location of this border.
International Court of Justice: The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, which settles legal disputes between states. Burkina Faso and Mali later asked the Court to determine their disputed frontier.