In early April, French troops have begun to withdraw from Mali. So far, 100 out of the original 4,000 troops deployed to Mali in January have left. With French elections nearing in July, French officials hope to have half of the troops leave by July and 1,000 left by the end of the year. These remaining 1,000 troops will stay there permanently. UN chief, Ban Ki-moon argues for 11,000 UN peace troops should be deployed to Mali after the French leave. The EU has also been providing training to Mali soldiers as well as assisting in monetary aid. In the short time being there, the French military has been relatively successful in moving out insurgents from the North. However, has this been enough? Small levels of resistance still occur in Gao. There is also no guarantee the Islamic militants will not return. Although out of the major cities and towns, these groups are hiding in isolated, desert areas. The French never planned on staying too long, but are they leaving too soon? Without having control of their borders and the military not yet strong enough, the French’s efforts will go to waste.
The
French involvement in Mali is not widely supported by French civilians. The
French will leave. Measures need to be taken by the Mali government as well as
the international community to allow for a successful Mali to exist in the
future. A peace agreement should be the first priority of leaders. Cooperation
with the Taureg people is crucial to stop Islamist militants from entering
Mali. Azawad is a major buffer zone between Mali and other North Africa regions
where rebels are hiding. It is through this area in which drugs and other
illegal items are being transported. Without secure borders, the government is
at risk for failure. A compromise is also crucial in order to prevent further
future ethnic conflicts from arising.
There
is no doubt that Mali still needs assistance. The UN should follow up with Ban
Ki-moon’s suggestions of peace troops to be sent to Mali. These troops should
be sent to patrol the border. This recommendation is not very feasible
considering the size of the border. The search for the rebels should also
continue beyond Mali to other regions of North Africa. It is in the areas where
the Islamic groups are hiding and getting their supplies.
The
large-scale military operation needed to secure Mali both internally and
externally is not likely to occur. Peace discussions have yet to be discussed
with the Taureg people. Domestic issues are also a major factor in holding Mali
back such as a low GDP and a young population. Overall, it is hard to be
optimistic about Mali’s future.
Sources:
"Mali Crisis: French Troops Begin Withdraw". BBC News 9 April 2013. Web. 14 April 2013.
"France Begins Withdrawing Troops From Mali". Al Jazeera 9 April 2013. Web. 14 April 2013.
You bring up a valid point, negotiating with the Tuaregs is crucial in order to secure Mali and keep Islam extremist groups out. As we discussed in class, the Tuareg's heavily depend upon the drug trade for financial means. I don't think negotiating is possible without (somehow) first cutting the drug routes...
ReplyDeleteThe United States has learned the hard way that completely eliminating rebel groups from a region is nearly impossible. The desert and cavernous landscapes in the MIddle East make it extremely difficult for rebels to hide and travel between countries. Also, many rebel groups in North Africa and the MIddle East have factions in several countries, making it easier to find refuge in neighboring regions. Although it seems like the region is stable for now, I presume that rebels groups or islamic militants will return in the very near future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mullins, i do believe that the Islamic militants at some point will return. With this said, the Malian government should act on giving concessions to the Tuareg in regards to giving them more representative power. If this is done now then the boarders have a better fighting chance of being kept more secure. I say this because imbibing in concessions to the Tuareg in an effort to ward off Islamic militants, such as Al-Qaeda, could be seen a unifying factor for the Malian government and the underrepresented Tuareg which will further pursue peaceful means between the two groups in the future.
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