This conflict has nothing to do with VW. Really, the car company just happened to use the name Tuareg. The ultimate irony would be if the Niger and Mali military started driving the VW SUVs when patrolling for Tuareg rebels.

…a Tuareg splinter group in Mali announced it had formed an alliance with Tuareg rebels in neighbouring Niger, who have begun a new military offensive this year against the Niger government.

The governments of Mali and Niger have said they will work together against the rebels who have demanded better development and a share of Niger’s mineral wealth.

Will VW come out with a Tuareg Rebel edition?

How many other vehicles have been named after a group of people? The Chrysler New Yorker comes to mind.