War and Peace in Mali -The Economist

The second phase will be top keep the peace and preserve the State,The Economist says.Fernch forces must protect civiliansand ensure thelegitamacy of the Malian government.In Gaothe conteraatcksby islamist forces began over the weekend before the weekend which suggests that the French forces may have to stay longer tough France is looking to pull its forcesout quickly to be replaced by African Union forces perhaps under the UN.

To achieve this the European Union intends to train Malian troops, while 8,000 soldiers from neighbouring countries, of whom more than half have so far arrived, hold the ring. The French hope that by April an African force will have come under the UN’s aegis. Foreign governments will provide cash for development.

The Malian government  is under presurre to hold elections in July and to achieve reconcliation berwen the South and the North, especially with the Tuareg.This will be difficult bearing in mind the long standing  animosity between the black Africans and the Tuareg whom the South has not forgiven for declaring the independence of Azawad.Guerilla attacks and Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs) have claimed the lives of Malian troops and returning to a sense of normalcy will be dificult.

To achieve this the European Union intends to train Malian troops, while 8,000 soldiers from neighbouring countries, of whom more than half have so far arrived, hold the ring. The French hope that by April an African force will have come under the UN’s aegis. Foreign governments will provide cash for development.

Some Tuareg  seem keen to cometo anagreement and the population is welcoming the French, encouraging them to stay. The French however are unwilling to commit to a long term engagement andare anxiously awaiting the arrival of all the African forces.The French aim to hand over th towns to the Malian army freeing themto seek out the terrorists in the mountains.However the Malian army, still largely untrained have yet to prove themselves in this role. The French may hope that the Tuareg may be able to help release the French hostages in exchange for help in negotiating a settlement with the Malians.The French and African forces could then isolate and contain the terrorists in the North with the Algerians having closed their side of the border. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop.