In this article, we intend to show why the geographical and ethnic division that was established under colonization in Mali between an essentially “white” north, i.e. Tuareg, a “red” Fulani at the centre, and a Mandingue “black” south continues to inform the major ethnic and identity conflict that is taking place in the country. It also accounts for and sheds light on the existence of today’s Jihadism and terrorism phenomena.