Mali :France-help!
As Ansar Dine and the Islamists push further into the South of Mali the UN calls for " a swift deployment' to Mali of the ECOWAS intervention force and President Francois Hollande decided that France would respond alongside ts African partners in response to the Malian President's call for aid in response to the rebel advance.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Mali-France-hel...
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, asked whether the Malian President Dioncounda Traore had requested specific kinds of military support, said: "It wasn't specific, but it basically said, 'Help, France!'."
The UN sanctioned ECOWAS interventions force is not due to arrive in Mal until Semptember as te UN special representative for Mali Romano Prodi said again last week.As the Islamist forces lead by Ansar Dine have taken Konna which is 700 kms from Bamako rapid action, perhaps involving air intervention and a air intervention is now requred.On Tuesday, African Union chairman Thomas Boni Yayi said Nato should send forces to Mali to fight the Islamists. "Soldiers of Europe, including the French, are present in Mali to repel any advance of Islamic south," said a Malian official, Le Figaro reported.
Any idea that the Malian army on its own can oppose the Islamist rebels appears to be waning although opinion amongst civil and military leaders in leaders has been against outside forces operating in Mali.
The international response to the Mali crisis has been tardy and reluctant and it appears that France is now ready to actively intervene on Mali's side albeit with the approval of the UN. Diplomatic sources said Mr Hollande and Mr Traore would meet for talks in Paris next Wednesday. The French government has ordered all French nationals to leave Mali 'temporarily' according to Le Figaro.
The UN sanctioned ECOWAS interventions force is not due to arrive in Mal until Semptember as te UN special representative for Mali Romano Prodi said again last week.As the Islamist forces lead by Ansar Dine have taken Konna which is 700 kms from Bamako rapid action, perhaps involving air intervention and a air intervention is now requred.On Tuesday, African Union chairman Thomas Boni Yayi said Nato should send forces to Mali to fight the Islamists. "Soldiers of Europe, including the French, are present in Mali to repel any advance of Islamic south," said a Malian official, Le Figaro reported.
Any idea that the Malian army on its own can oppose the Islamist rebels appears to be waning although opinion amongst civil and military leaders in leaders has been against outside forces operating in Mali.
The international response to the Mali crisis has been tardy and reluctant and it appears that France is now ready to actively intervene on Mali's side albeit with the approval of the UN. Diplomatic sources said Mr Hollande and Mr Traore would meet for talks in Paris next Wednesday. The French government has ordered all French nationals to leave Mali 'temporarily' according to Le Figaro.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Mali-France-hel...