France’s decision to help Mali recover its territorial integrity is to be applauded. It is never the ideal solution for a former colonial power to send troops to its former colony, neither is it ideal, in today’s situation, for western troops to be sent on a combat mission in a Muslim country. However, the situation was getting out of control and Mali risked having its entire territory controlled by Islamist militias linked to al-Qaeda.
Northern Mali is the largest area in the world controlled by al-Qaeda, a region larger than France- Anthony Manduca
French President François Hollande responded to a call for help by the Government of Mali, and he was correct to do so. France’s military intervention has been sanctioned by the United Nations, is supported by the European Union, the United States and the countries of West Africa and has been greatly welcomed by the ordinary citizens of Mali who have witnessed first-hand the brutality of the Islamists who control the north of the country.
The French have been asking for some sort of international intervention for some time now in order to drive al-Qaeda out of Mali. Over the past 10 months al-Qaeda has established Islamic law across northern Mali, an area of around 200,000 square miles (almost two thirds of the country), and turned the territory into a haven for terrorism and organised crime.
Although the African Union had, on November 13, agreed to send approximately 3,000 troops to northern Mali to battle the rebels – a move sanctioned by the UN Security Council last December, no troops were sent.
This was because the UN Security Council resolution had not put forward a timetable for the intervention of the African Union troops and it was unclear how the military force would be funded or trained. France, fearing that Mali’s capital, Bamako, would fall to the rebels, decided to act its own, sent in 1,400 troops and carried out a series of air strikes.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, however, told West African leaders yesterday at a meeting in the Ivory Coast that they must “pick up the baton” to rid Mali of the Islamic insurgents. He said France had to send in troops “very, very rapidly, otherwise there would be no more Mali”.
In a welcome move, Chad said it will send 2,000 troops, Nigeria, 1,200, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo 500 each and Benin 300. Ghana and Guinea have also promised to send troops.
The UK is providing two C17 cargo planes to help the French while Belgium and Denmark are also sending transport planes. The Netherlands will deploy its aircraft to Mali to support the French intervention and the US is to provide communications help.
The European Union is also playing its part. EU foreign ministers last week agreed to fund a training mission for the weak Malian army. The €12.3 million mission will consist of 200 instructors from EU member states and another 250 troops to protect them and offer support.
In return for the training, the EU has demanded that Mali’s government present a road map for free elections and the restoration of democracy. Military officers staged a coup last March that hastened the fall of the north to the rebels, who began an insurgency a year ago.
People who might think that this war in Mali doesn’t matter or is of no concern to them should consider this fact: Northern Mali is the largest area in the world controlled by al-Qaeda, a region larger than France, so this should be of great concern to the international community.
The writing has been on the wall for some time. Only last December, General Carter Ham, commander of the US Africa Command, warned, during a speech at George Washington University, that al-Qaeda was using northern Mali as a training centre and base for recruiting across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
“As each day goes by, al-Qaida and other organisations are strengthening their hold in northern Mali,” the general said.
He added: “There is a growing linkage, a growing network and collaboration and synchronisation among the various violent extremist organisations in the region which I think poses the greatest threat to regional stability, more broadly across Africa, certainly into Europe, and to the United States.”
Hopefully the French military intervention, aided by West African nations, will end this threat, once and for all.