French Planes Bomb Town Seized by Mali Islamists

French warplanes have bombed a Malian town seized by Islamist militants as more troops prepare to join the offensive against the extremist groups.

Witnesses say French planes attacked Diabaly overnight, just hours after Islamist fighters took control of the town, located 400 kilometers north of Mali's capital, Bamako.

French defense officials say the French contingent in Mali, now at 750, will gradually rise to 2,500.  And Nigeria said Tuesday that it will deploy its first troops into Mali within 24 hours.

West African countries have speeded up their planned deployment to Mali after Islamist groups that control the north began advancing last week.

Sonny Ugoh, communications director for the Economic Community of West African States, said in an interview with VOA's English to Africa that ECOWAS members sensed the need for urgency.

"They have said member countries should deploy immediately in order to support Mali to defend its territorial integrity, defend the capital from this onslaught and secure the country," Ugoh said. "I think they have acted as responsibly as the situation requires."

The French ambassador to the United Nations, Gerard Araud, said Monday that a Nigerian general who will lead the African force is already in Bamako.  The neighboring countries of Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal have also promised promise to send troops.

France deployed forces in Mali on Friday, acting on a request from Mali's interim government.  Araud said the government decided to offer military help because it was worried the militants could possibly take over the country.

"Our assessment was that they were totally able to take Bamako," he said. "And so, we decided that what was at stake was the existence of the state of Mali, and beyond Mali was the stability of all of West Africa.  With determination, but also with reluctance, we decided that we had no other choice but to launch this military intervention and we'll conduct it as long as necessary."

from THEATHRUM BELLI flickr

The United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday that the latest clashes have driven more than 1,000 Malians into neighboring countries.  It says the total number of Malian refugees in the region now stands at 144,000, and that more than 200,000 Malians are displaced within the country.

The United States said Monday that it is preparing to offer logistical support to France.  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the United States is already providing intelligence gathered by unmanned aerial vehicles operating in the region.  He said Washington is also considering providing limited logistical support and some airlift capability.

Al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremists seized control of northern Mali soon after renegade soldiers toppled the government in March, leaving a temporary power vacuum.  The militants have imposed harsh conservative Islamic law across the north.

Mali is a former French colony and France still has a variety of economic and political interests there.

from VOA News
January 15, 2013

Posted in: Africa, Bamako, Burkina Faso, Diabaly, Islamism, Mali, Operation Serval, West Africa