In April, Tuareg rebels and radical Islamists forced government troops out of the northern region of Mali.
The rebels declared independence from Mali and named Africa's newest country Azawad while the jihadists said they were "against independence" because it was "not in the name of Islam."
The al-Qaeda-backed group, Ansar Dine, has won out and are now implementing sharia law (a strict form of Islamic law), leading to public executions, amputations and floggings.
In July they stoned an unmarried couple to death for having children out of wedlock.
CNN reports that they are now compiling a list of unmarried mothers in northern Mali.
BBC reports that they are amassing money from ransoms and drug trafficking and buying children for $600 each to use as soldiers.
In August Islamist commissioner Aliou Toure said that they "don't have to answer to anyone over the application of sharia" because it's "the form of Islam practiced for thousands of years."
But Al Jazeera reports that they'll probably have to answer to a U.N.-mandated international military force, based on a pending resolution sponsored by France and backed by the U.S.
[UPDATE 3:50 p.m.] The Associated Press reports that "the U.N. security council has unanimously approved a plan to back an African-led military force to help the Malian army oust Islamic militants."
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