Mali coup complicates security in the Sahel

Gaddafi planned to continue his fight and after his death  elements of his plans for a regional war have taken on a life of their own as Mali implodes with the Tuareg forces advancing further South and Malian soldiers looting and firing in the street.

Reuters points to a toxic cocktail of  heavily armed rebels,weapons,refugees,drought and increasing famine, smugglers of weapons and narcotics and terrorists including Al Qaeda.The state of chaos and money making activities including kidnapping may be encouraging some elements on all sides who may prefer to keep the situation as it is.

As the US,UK,EU,France, African Union,World Bank,IMF all suspend financing and military aid they seem powerless to restore Mali to democratic rule in the face of the Tuareg conflict. The AU and ECOWAS will travel to Mali next week for talks next week.

The Tuareg have had long standing grievances regarding their situation in Northern Mali which they call Azawad. It should be possible to come to a negotiated settlement and a number of initiatives are underway.

The coup soldiers complaints about their lack of equipment and support in their conflict against the Tuareg may have some truth to it ( Reuters hints that the US and France have also been frustrated by the  conduct of military conflict in the North) and a negotiated settlement  with the Tuareg might obviate the need to carry on fighting.

However, settling the lawlessness in the region which benefits the terrorists and AQIM may be a far more complex task.