African Leaders Send Troops to Mali

I chose this week to write about Mali and the recent proposed intervention.  Leaders of 15 African countries have signed an agreement to intervene in Mali.  Troops will be sent to the Islamist-run Northern region of Mali. The Economic Community of Western States (ECOWAS) met in Nigeria earlier this week for an emergency summit to plot a military strategy seeking to wrest control of northern Mali back from Islamist groups. According to the BBC, the plan covers a six-month period, with a preparatory phase for training and for the establishment of bases in Mali's south, followed by combat operations in the north.

The UN has warned that the Islamist militias are imposing a harsh version of Shari’a law on the areas they controlled and that forced marriage, forced prostitution, and rape are becoming widespread. They also have earned international condemnation for destroying ancient tombs recognized as UN World Heritage sites, such as Timbuktu.   

Since the adoption of the resolution, the UN gave African leaders 45 days to draw up a military plan for intervention.  Though it’s reported they were hoping for 5,500 troops, the summit’s proposal commits just 3,300 troops, although it is assumed the UN still is looking for countries to contribute more troops to the cause.  The majority of the soldiers will come from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger, but they cannot be deployed until the UN Security Council and the African Union approves it. The UN vote is expected in the coming weeks, aiming for mid-December.

Leaders of African countries remain divided in their opinions. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said that forceful intervention was needed to avoid costly consequences and that “Nigeria fully supports the recommendations of chiefs of defense…for an intervention force to be immediately deployed to Mali to help restore order and stability there.” However, non-ECOWAS member Algeria, represented by Kalmal Rezzag Bara, a terrorism and security advisor to Algeria’s President, seemed less certain. Bara said that Mali’s current state is an “internal affair” and that ECOWAS “internationalizing the crisis would only aggravate the situation.” He recommended that Mali should be assisted in coming up with plan of action short of intervention to resolve the crisis.  Initially, ECOWAS wanted to reach an agreement with the rebels but, after months without result, the organization is turning towards intervention.  I think this is a very important story especially given Michael's heartbreak over Mali's rocky last year.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20292797

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/state-tv-west-african-leaders-agree-to-send-troops-to-wrest-control-in-north-mali/2012/11/11/810515f6-2c49-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/11/world/africa/mali-international-troops/index.html