Presidents of Mali and Niger meet
The Acting President of the Republic of Mali Dioncounda Traoré President Mahamadou Issoufou.He confirmed Niger's readiness to assist Mali in regaining its northern region.It is contributing around 500 troops to the ECOWAS intervention force.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Presidents-of-M...
Both leaders urged all rebels in northern Mali to eschew armed struggle and break off relations with AQIM,Mujao and other terrorist groups and to recognise Mali's terrirotial integrity,according to AP.
They also appealed to the UN Security Counci to endorse the ECOWAS intervention force.
Niger and Mali are two countries bordering the Sahel-Saharan Africa, which are threatened by terrorists engaged in drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and hostage taking. Both have suffered from climatic conditions which are undermining their agriculture leading to malnutrition and hunger .They face the problem of hundreds of thousands of refugees and widespread unemployment.Niger has a large Tuareg population which it has managed to integrate more successfully than Mali. Niger faces the additional challenge of infiltration by Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria who are also now in Northern Mali.
In the vast Sahel region where Subsaharan Africa and the Arab world meet the spectre of islamist terrorism carries a threat to the existence of these impoverished countries. If they can increase internal cooperation between Niger,Mali and Tchad this can only help their chances of survival.
They also appealed to the UN Security Counci to endorse the ECOWAS intervention force.
Niger and Mali are two countries bordering the Sahel-Saharan Africa, which are threatened by terrorists engaged in drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and hostage taking. Both have suffered from climatic conditions which are undermining their agriculture leading to malnutrition and hunger .They face the problem of hundreds of thousands of refugees and widespread unemployment.Niger has a large Tuareg population which it has managed to integrate more successfully than Mali. Niger faces the additional challenge of infiltration by Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria who are also now in Northern Mali.
In the vast Sahel region where Subsaharan Africa and the Arab world meet the spectre of islamist terrorism carries a threat to the existence of these impoverished countries. If they can increase internal cooperation between Niger,Mali and Tchad this can only help their chances of survival.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Presidents-of-M...