nomadic fighters launched unrest in the sahara in the 1960s and 1990s , and renewed rebellions through late 2007 against the coalition governments of niger and mali have increased instability in a region where ' qaeda cells also operate . fighting in niger ' s insurrection , instigated by the niger islamic movement ( mnj ) , has killed more than 300 insurgents and around 80 government soldiers . the mnj says it is campaigning for freedom with black africans in the west of the nation , more political freedoms and a wider say in the use of mineral capital from the niger , which has a booming coal mining market .
MNJ is an organization of Tuareg rebels.