French Troops Move Against Islamist Base in Mali

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

French troops in northern Mali have launched a new operation against a suspected Islamist militant base near the city of Gao.

A reporter for VOA said Monday that a force of about 1,000 soldiers, backed by tanks, helicopters and drones, is moving against the base in the small town of Bourem.

Al-Qaida-linked militants fled to remote areas after French and Malian government troops drove them out of northern Mali's main cities and towns in a January offensive.

Meanwhile, the president of Niger says the battle against Islamist militants in neighboring Mali is "almost over."

In an interview with VOA, President Mahamadou Issoufou says northern Mali is free and "many terrorists have been eliminated," following the French-led offensive.

He predicts armed militants and drug traffickers will still organize attacks but says "significant results have been achieved."

France has indicated it will begin withdrawing its troops from Mali by the end of this month. 

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the deployment of two replacement forces in Mali - one to help stabilize the country and one to continue fighting al-Qaida.

In the interview, Niger's president voiced support for the presence of U.S. troops and drones in Niger.  Issoufou says the forces are needed to fight regional terrorism, and says that without the drones, "we are blind."

President Obama has said about 100 U.S. military personnel are in Niger for the purpose of intelligence collection.

from VOA News
April 08, 2013

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Administrator in northern Mali killed by Tuareg rebels

BAMAKO, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The administrator of Bourem, a region in Gao in northern Mali, was killed by Tuareg rebels, local residents reported on Sunday.

The residents said the administrator, Mohamed Sidibe, attempted to flee with his family on Saturday, after learning that the rebels of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) were going to attack Gao.

A resident of Bourem said the MNLA fighters took away the vehicle of the administrator and his body was returned on Sunday. His wife was also reportedly killed.

Residents in another northern region of Sevare went on panic after learning that the Tuareg rebels were preparing to attack their town.

The Malian soldiers and civilians who fled from Gao, Niafunke and Timbuktu are taking refuge in Sevare.

Tuareg rebels seized Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu respectively on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For the first time since they took arms the 1960s, the rebels have taken the northern towns in pursuit of independence of an Azawad land comprising Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal.

The rebels apparently took advantage of the coup on March 22, when the junta declared takeover from President Amadou Toumani Toure, citing his failure to provide means for the military to curb Tuareg rebels in the north.

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