On the spectrum between "Just a press release" and "Widely-recognised state", Azawad is certainly not as far along the spectrum as Kosovo or Taiwain &c; but it's certainly further along than (say) Sealand. Independent sources generally haven't treated it as an independent state but they have accepted that there's some kind of substance to rebel claims - ie.  - and we should reflect what sources say. The two-shades-of-green thing is fine by me, but perhaps it's possible to construct more neutral wording than just "breakaway" - one which reflects some amount of de facto control but few trappings of statehood.