Malian Army Re-Takes Central City From Rebels

The Malian army says it has re-taken control of the central town of Konna, as French and regional forces continue to pour into the country to fight a rebel offensive.

The army says it has gained "total control" of the city after inflicting "heavy losses" on the Islamist rebels there. The militant takeover of the town last week prompted France to intervene in its former colony.

The Malian army has previously reported military successes in Konna, but the claims are difficult to verify, since journalists have had difficulty accessing the city.

The one-week-old counter-offensive by French and West African regional troops appears to have stopped the southward advance of the al-Qaida-linked fighters, but has encountered heavier than expected resistance.

Heavy fighting between French soldiers and militants was reported Thursday in the town Diabaly, which was seized this week by the rebels.

French officials say 1,400 troops are now in Mali. A total of 2,500 soldiers are expected to deploy in the coming days. France says they will stay until the situation is stable.

On Thursday, the United States agreed to help France airlift troops and equipment into the country, though the Defense Department says it has no plans to send troops to the conflict.

Meanwhile, West African military chiefs say 2,000 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Togo will soon arrive in Mali as part of a U.N. authorized force.

As the foreign intervention entered its second week, new signs of a worsening humanitarian condition have emerged.

Doctors Without Borders Friday said civilians are in danger and that it is not able to deliver supplies to the battle-torn town of Konna. The French aid agency said all roads leading to the central town have been closed by the Malian military, despite "repeated requests" for access.

The U.N. refugee agency says it expects an increased wave of Malians to flee their homes in the coming months. An agency spokesperson said Friday it is preparing for 300,000 to be displaced inside the country and for 400,000 to leave for neighboring countries.

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

from VOA News
January 18, 2013

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French troops fight Islamist rebels on the ground in Mali

French troops have engaged in close-quarter combat with Islamist fighters on Wednesday in the Malian town of Diabaly in the first ground clashes after days of air strikes, according to Malian security forces.
"The special forces are currently in Diabaly, in close-quarter combat with the Islamists. The Malian army is also in place," the Malian security source told news agency AFP on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, France’s army chief confirmed French troops have begun a ground offensive in Mali.

"The ground operation began several hours ago," Admiral Edouard Guillaud told Europe 1 radio on Wednesday morning.

French armoured units and Malian government forces set off towards the north from the capital Bamako, supporting airstrikes that began last week.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that the troops, whose number is set to triple from 800 at present to 2,500 men, faced a long and tough battle against determined fighters whose number he estimated at up to 1,300.

"It's a little more difficult in the west, where we have the toughest, most fanatical and best-organised groups. It's under way there but it's difficult," he said.

A first contingent of 190 Nigerian troops was also due to arrive in Bamako on Wednesday as part of a regional force of over 3,000 soldiers from Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo to support the French and Malian troops.

In addition, Germany announced today it would send two military transport planes to support the mission, with the planes mainly used to move African troops.

Belgium has offered two C-130 transport planes and two helicopters to back up
France's offensive, while Britain and Canada have offered troop transporters.

On the ground, a military source said the Islamists were some 80 kilometres north of Markala, putting them around 350 kilometres away from Bamako.

A convoy of armoured vehicles was also reported by a local government official to be heading to the town of Diabaly, which Al Qaeda-linked groups seized earlier this week.

The United Nations humanitarian agency said on Tuesday 144,500 refugees have fled the unrest to neighbouring Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Algeria, while another 230,000 were internally displaced.

By RFI
France - Mali -
Article published the Wednesday 16 January 2013 - Latest update : Wednesday 16 January 2013

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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

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