Just today British and French citizens were killed in Algeria and others abducted by militants, the group responsible claim it is due to French troops operations in Mali. For France this might be a calculated gamble or risk (whichever. Coz overtly or covertly the French sure ain't there to protect Mali or Malian interest but their own interests in Mali - whatever it is)

For nija, our fatherland, what strategic interest are we going there for (especially seeing that our past investment in peacekeeping in Africa hasn't translated to much), and would it be a good idea given our challenges with our own millitants ( especially knowing that gains made on curbing them is fragile and can be eroded with the curent (mis) adventure into Mali)

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Ok them don kill all dem boko aram abi??mtcheewww

As the big bro of west africa there is no way Naija can run away from this Mali debacle. In all it is to our interest that Mali is stabilised else Niger republic wld be threatened by those islamist militants and ultimately Nigeria wld be affected. The problem in Mali now is a fallout of the death of Ghaddafi and the collapse of Libya whereby arms freely flowed across the borders to neighbouring Mali. As seen so far, france has testified that the militants are using very sophisticated weaponry. Going forward I think the intervention in Mali is a right step but France and her interests would continue to suffer attacks in north africa.

According to chief of air staff

“We expect them to do what Mr. President directed that we do; he has directed that we should go and assist Mali in repelling the jihad fighters there because you know that if they finish with Mali the next thing will be to come to Nigeria.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/jonathan-orders-deployment-of-war-planes-to-mail/

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I agree with u that Mali needs to be stabilised, and it is in our interest, but there are alternatives to military action. I don't know of any foreign nation that has militarily stabilised another nation with local insurgency. Neither could the Americans in Iraq or Afghanistan, and neither can the French in Mali, besides as soon as the incursion drags on for too long and election approaches in France, the French will simply pack bags and declare victory however fiticious that may be (just as the Americans are doing in afghanistan and did in iraq). And then nigeria will be left with the infamous status as the 'new big satan' in Africa. And we can't afford to have the attention of alqaeeda in Africa and all her derivatives focused on Nigeria. We don't have what it takes to survive that.

My suggestion is Nigeria shouldn't outrightly decline, but use delay tactics and rhetorics, and intense backstage diplomacy and other foreign policy tools force the concern parties to some kind of a deal or whatever and also to wiggle out of this, cos it's definitely not in our interest going into Mali.

Dem never finish solve dir own problem dem wan go drink panadol for another people headache. Na only GOD go save we country

brosiye99: As the big bro of west africa there is no way Naija can run away from this Mali debacle. In all it is to our interest that Mali is stabilised else Niger republic wld be threatened by those islamist militants and ultimately Nigeria wld be affected. The problem in Mali now is a fallout of the death of Ghaddafi and the collapse of Libya whereby arms freely flowed across the borders to neighbouring Mali. As seen so far, france has testified that the militants are using very sophisticated weaponry. Going forward I think the intervention in Mali is a right step but France and her interests would continue to suffer attacks in north africa.

The truth is that, nigeria need to be verycarefull when it comes to religion(faith) war.this is not political war in liberal ivory-coast or senegal.
Places like iraq, afghanistan where American went to mediate, The crises is still there.
Instead we should tighten our board against those millitans

That is why i like the way ghanian president back off.
There are issues you don't just jump into.

just like bokoharam in nigeria, it is diificult to open any negotiation with these militants. there is no time for that now. these guys are busy moving towards d capital so they have to be stopped by force.I fully support the use of force albeit some diplomatic solution can also go on concurrently. at least this mission has been fully supported and approved by UN security council.

how is this deployment of ecowas force to mali different from deployment of west african frontier force to burma?

is white french force going to be in the trench hole and taking rpg fire?

I still think it's not a good Idea

France gets deeper in Mali war: Are they ready?

French ground troops in Mali advanced north today toward the tiny hamlet of Diabaly, preparing to engage Islamic rebels in a shooting war whose duration and success are still a question mark.

What began as a limited air campaign last week to counter an ambitious rebel advance southward from strongholds in northern Mali may this week become a full-scale war.

The French are seeking to retake Diabaly from the rebels after the town of 35,000 fell last week and airstrikes did not check rebel advances.

"We will be fighting directly," said French military chief of staff Adm. Edouard Guillaud on Europe 1 television Wednesday. “I am unable to say whether it is in one hour or in 72 hours."

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The French ground assault comes six days after French forces intervened with airstrikes as it appeared Islamist rebels captured Konna, a small town in central Mali close to the strategically vital cities of Sévaré and Mopti.

Despite initial statements by the Malian military that the French strikes drove the Islamists out of Konna, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said yesterday that Konna is still not under the control of the Malian army.

France’s intervention still enjoys broad support among the majority of Malians. But the optimism that defined the early days of the operation has now taken on a more cautious tone.

Both Malians and foreign analysts are grappling with the scale of operations thought necessary to retake northern Mali from the rebels – with many commentators questioning how France could have underestimated the strength of its adversary.

more here;
http://news.yahoo.com/france-gets-deeper-mali-war-ready-222200186.html