During the 2012 Tuareg rebellion in late March, MOJWA took part in the capture of Gao, along with Ansar Dine. On 9 April, MOJWA claimed the kidnapping of seven Algerians from the consulate in Gao, including the consul and vice-consul. The kidnapping of the consul was filmed in progress by Aljazeera. Three days later, it issued a statement that read the hostages were being treated well "according to Sharia law" and they asked for the liberation of imprisoned members of MOJWA in Algeria in exchange for the consular staff, according to sources mentioned by the Algerian newspaper "Echorouk". Three of the diplomats were freed in July 2012.