French forces on the ground in Mali to fight Islamist militias

Considering how repressive the Islamists have become in North Mali, I think this is great news that the French are sending in ground and air forces to assist Mali’s army:

NRO – The French government have deployed troops and air power in Mali, assisting that country’s armed forces in attacks on Islamist militias who have been advancing from the north. French African media are reporting that helicopters have attacked Islamist positions around the town of Konna, which lies in the narrow part of the country between the south, which the government still controls, and the north, which is now controlled by various Islamist militias affiliated with al-Qaeda, which have been fighting over the territory with Tuareg rebels. There had been rumors in the past few weeks that Islamist forces, which apparently have tenuously held towns in that liminal area, were planning to launch more extensive attacks in the region, toward the town of Mopti, pushing much farther into government territory than they had before and imperiling the stability of the whole country (in recent weeks it had also been reported that more foreign insurgents were arriving near the front line, including from Nigeria — the Islamists in Mali have been intent on trying to masquerade as indigenous forces and dispel the image of foreign jihadists).

French president François Hollande, confirming the unannounced operation today, said that French troops will operate in Mali “as long as necessary.” The French government has also recommended that all its citizens leave the country. Le Figaro also reports that German troops are involved (“Merkozy Goes to the Maghreb”?), though this remains unconfirmed. France did not previously have troops in Mali, but it does maintain troop presences across Africa, including in Mali’s Francophone neighbors Chad and the Central African Republic.

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Definitely click the link to read his synopsis of the origins of this conflict. In short, it was spawned by the fall of Qaddafi.


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