Picture: AFP
By David Blair, Sarakala6:56PM GMT 18 Jan 2013
French soldiers have achieved their first victories in Mali, recapturing a key town from al-Qaeda and foiling an Islamist advance towards the Niger river.

Convoys of French armoured personnel carriers moved north of the Niger, heading past the village of Sarakala and driving into the Sahelian plains.

The national army, supported by the French, seized back the town of Konna in central Mali from "al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb" (AQIM) and its allies.

The fall of Konna last week was the key event that triggered the French intervention. Its capture left only a single weak garrison standing between AQIM and the capital, Bamako.

But the army announced that Konna was back in their hands. A military statement said: "We have wrested total control of Konna after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy." France later confirmed the Malian army's claim. The recapture of Konna lifts the immediate threat to Bamako and the rest of southern Mali.

But AQIM's fighters have also opened a new front in a different region of southern Mali, seizing the town of Diabaley on Monday and striking towards the north bank of the Niger.

France responded by deploying troops to guard the bridge at Markala, while sending special forces across the river to help the Malian army to counter-attack.

Early reports suggested that AQIM lost Diabaley Friday, although mopping up operations were said to be continuing. French troops have called in air strikes by Mirage and Rafale jets.

Some 1,800 French troops are now in Mali, with the total force expected to reach 2,500. While AQIM's advance into southern Mali has been blocked and partially rolled back, the Islamists are still in control of the northern two-thirds of the country, including the cities of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal.

So far, France has prevented them from taking the rest of Mali, but its troops have not tried to break AQIM's dominance of the north.

That task will probably fall to the Malian army and an African force comprised of 3,000 troops from neighbouring countries. When this new unit will be ready to take the offensive is unclear: many of its soldiers have not yet arrived and a European Union training mission will not deploy in Mali until next month.

Many ordinary Malians want their country to be reunited as soon as possible. Fatoumata Maiga, 45, fled Diabaley shortly before it fell to the Islamists. "My neighbour came and said 'don't you know about the fighting that is coming, you must get away from here'." She gathered her five sons and five daughters and fled to the town of Marikana, leaving all her possessions behind.

Marikana now serves as the local hub for the French forces and the base for the counter-attack towards Diabaley.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9812310/French-troops-take-back-key-Mali-town-from-militants.html

West African states meet again on Mali crisis


CNN) - The number of French troops in Mali could top 2,500, France's defense minister said Saturday as West African leaders discussed plans for additional forces to help battle militants in the north.

There are about 2,000 French troops in Mali so far, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told CNN affiliate France 3.

The number of boots on the ground is a top priority as West African states met Saturday in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan.

At the gathering, the leaders were to discuss ways to speed up deployment of African troops to help their French counterparts push out the Islamist militants.

The regional bloc -- the Economic Community Of West African States -- has said it has 3,300 regional troops on standby.

France intervened in Mali about a week ago after militants started advancing toward the capital, forcing world leaders to fast-track decisions on intervention.

French and Malian forces retook the key town of Konna from militants Friday, a French source said.

Militants said they had seized Konna on January 10, which prompted France to start its offensive over fears that fighters were inching toward the capital.

The fighting in Mali has captured the world's attention.

It was one of the most successful democracies in Africa until last year when a coup toppled the president and Islamists capitalized on the chaos and established themselves in the north.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/19/world/africa/mali-unrest/index.html

victory is sure[b][/b]

karl max: West African states meet again on Mali crisis


CNN) - The number of French troops in Mali could top 2,500, France's defense minister said Saturday as West African leaders discussed plans for additional forces to help battle militants in the north.

There are about 2,000 French troops in Mali so far, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told CNN affiliate France 3.

The number of boots on the ground is a top priority as West African states met Saturday in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan.

At the gathering, the leaders were to discuss ways to speed up deployment of African troops to help their French counterparts push out the Islamist militants.

The regional bloc -- the Economic Community Of West African States -- has said it has 3,300 regional troops on standby.

France intervened in Mali about a week ago after militants started advancing toward the capital, forcing world leaders to fast-track decisions on intervention.

French and Malian forces retook the key town of Konna from militants Friday, a French source said.

Militants said they had seized Konna on January 10, which prompted France to start its offensive over fears that fighters were inching toward the capital.

The fighting in Mali has captured the world's attention.

It was one of the most successful democracies in Africa until last year when a coup toppled the president and Islamists capitalized on the chaos and established themselves in the north.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/19/world/africa/mali-unrest/index.html

Nigeria should match France's numbers in Mali, considering that most of the smaller nations forces that'll be contributing will be virtually worthless in this war effort. Ghana, Chad and Senegal will be the only dependable forces in which will be of any help to Nigeria and France, the rest will be pretty much filler forces. Do to this, Nigeria needs to send a number large enough, to make up for the lack of effective support that'll be coming from the other nations. One perfect case in point to this necessity, is the photo of the Benin or Togo forces arriving in Mali; they looked as though they were going on vacation, half of them weren't even paying their commander any mind as he attempted to talk to them while half of them chatted away on their cell phones.

Nigeria would be a fool to depend on these people to back them up while in battle, they need to cover their own azz, by bringing in at least 2500 troops, cause they're gonna certainly need them. Half way into this conflict most of the smaller contributing nations will end up pulling out, they are too small to be involved in such a international conflict, they lack the stamina, money, training and supplies to go much longer than a few months in such a situation as this.

Mali conflict: French troops 'enter Diabaly'

A column of French and Malian troops has entered the key central Malian town of Diabaly, without resistance from militant Islamists, officials say.

About 30 armoured vehicles carrying some 200 French and Malian soldiers moved into the town, said an AFP reporter with the soldiers.

The Islamists fled the town on Friday after it was hit by French airstrikes.

France launched its military action in Mali more than a week ago to end the Islamist control of northern Mali.

France has sent some 2,000 troops to help Malian forces fight the militants, some of whom are linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

It has called on West African countries to speed up the deployment of a regional force of more than 3,000.

An Islamist group in Nigeria, says it carried out an attack last week which killed two Nigerian troops as they prepared to deploy to Mali.

Ansaru said it targeted the troops because the Nigerian military was joining efforts to "demolish the Islamic empire of Mali".

Nigeria has pledged to send 1,200 troops to Mali, with the first 50 deployed on Thursday.

Togolese and Senegalese solders make up the remaining 100 troops already in Bamako, AFP reports.

'Total reconquest'

Mali's Islamist fighters seized control of Diabaly, about 400km (250 miles) from the capital, Bamako, soon after France's intervention.

On Monday, French soldiers from the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment as well as parachutists and Malian troops entered the town after reconnaissance flights by Gazelle helicopters, said an AFP reporter with the soldiers.

They had set out at dawn from the nearby government-controlled town of Niono, which French troops entered on Thursday.

Army commanders had earlier expressed fears that Islamists fleeing Diabaly had planted landmines.

On Sunday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France was seeking "total reconquest" of northern Mali.

"We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, he told French television.

The Islamist groups currently control a vast area in the Sahara Desert, larger than France.



http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21121262

African force in Mali now numbers 1,000: French army

Reuters) - There are now 1,000 soldiers from West Africa and Chad on the ground in Mali forming the basis of a force to fight Islamist rebels in Mali, France's armed forces spokesman said on Monday.

The African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), which should eventually number several thousand troops, currently has 830 soldiers from West African nations such as Togo, Benin, Niger and Nigeria and 170 from Chad.

They are engaged with France's 2,150-strong force, helping the Malian army push back the rebels. France, the former colonial power, has made 140 bombing sorties since its aerial campaign began on January 11, Burkhard said.

On Monday, French and Malian armoured columns moved into an area of central Mali around the towns of Diabaly or Doeuntza as al Qaeda-linked rebels withdrew. There was no fighting, according to the French spokesman.

A U.S. flight bringing logistical support to France's campaign arrived on Sunday evening, he said. Cargo planes from European nations including Britain have already arrived.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/21/us-mali-rebels-afisma-idUSBRE90K0NX20130121

Why do we hear France this france that france-mali force those..... What about Nigerian Force/ECOWAS Force.... !!

I thought dem say , Nigeria is gonna lead African Force in Mali!!!


I know Nigerian Force are doing great job too but we hear more of France.....Media bikonu oo!!!