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Momodou
Denmark
11662 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Nov 2012 : 15:15:10
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A story from AP Mobile:
African leaders agree to send troops to north Mali
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - West African nations on Sunday agreed to send some 3,000 troops to help the country of Mali wrest back control of its northern half, which was seized by al-Qaida-linked fighters more than six months ago, according to an official involved in the discussions, and a statement read on Nigerian state television. The decision came late Sunday at the end of an emergency summit in Ni...
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2012 : 16:35:04
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SENEWEB ENGLISH WITH SAME NEWS;
"ABUJA (AFP) - African leaders met Sunday in Abuja have agreed on sending in Mali an international military force to "3300 soldiers" for "one year" to reconquer the north occupied by armed Islamist groups, has announced the Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara.
"We expect 3300 soldiers for a period of one year," he told reporters Ouattara, President of the Economic Community of the States of West Africa (ECOWAS), told reporters.
He was speaking after a closed-door discussion of the leaders of the 15 member countries of ECOWAS and some other African countries including Mauritania, Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Chad and Libya.
According to their final communiqué, West African leaders have "adopted" what they call the "Concept of Operations for harmonized deployment of the international force led by Africa," emphasizing "the leadership of ECOWAS in the deployment of the international force under African leadership. "
This plan must be submitted to the UN before the end of November through the African Union.
Ouattara said he hoped the Security Council of the United Nations give the green light to this intervention in Mali at the end of the month or early December.
The "international force" would consist primarily of soldiers from member countries of ECOWAS. "We have countries that offer battalions, other companies (...). Ago, of course, Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, we also countries such as Ghana (. ..), Togo, "said Mr. Ouattara.
Ivorian President also spoke of the potential contribution of non-member countries of ECOWAS "Chad could participate" and "we had contacts with other countries: Mauritania, South Africa."
At the opening of the summit, President Goodluck Jonathan had resolutely advocated the military option, in order to "avoid damaging consequences not only in Mali but for the whole of West Africa and Africa as a whole. "
The final communiqué has emphasized that "dialogue" remains "the preferred option for resolving the political crisis in Mali." "However, with regard to the security situation, the use of force is necessary against terrorist networks and transnational crime that threaten international peace and security," added the West African leaders.
For them, the dialogue must involve that "armed groups not involved in terrorist and criminal activities," which recognize the integrity of Mali and the secular nature of the state. A priori, are therefore excluded all armed Islamist groups that currently impose sharia in northern populations (execution by stoning of an unmarried couple, amputations of suspected thieves, etc..).
Algeria, key regional player and traditionally hostile to any intervention, was represented at this meeting by Abdelkader Messahel, Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs.
For their part, Europeans support African regional initiatives, but so far have said they would not send troops to combat on Malian soil, that the military option should be considered as a "last spring, "but they were willing to logistical support and guidance.
French President François Hollande reiterated on Sunday that France would not intervene directly in Mali but would "duty" to be with Africans if they chose a military operation.
Ministers from five European countries - France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain - are to meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss the establishment of a European mission training that would count at least 200 soldiers." |
Edited by - kobo on 12 Nov 2012 16:39:22 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11662 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2012 : 11:11:15
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A story from AP Mobile:
France rules out any use of air power in Mali
PARIS (AP) - Neither France nor Europe will intervene militarily to oust al-Qaida and its allies from northern Mali - not even with air strikes, the French defense minister said Tuesday. Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke two days after West African nations agreed to send some 3,300 troops to help Mali's tenuous government wrest control of the country's vast north that was seized by al-Qaida-linked fighters...
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BBC: African Union backs plan to deploy troops
The African Union (AU) has backed a plan to send troops into Mali to clear the north of Islamist extremists.
It endorsed the decision by West Africa's regional bloc Ecowas on Sunday to send 3,300 troops to help Mali's government retake the region.
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