France Intervenes In Mali Conflict

France Intervenes In Mali Conflict

With the same al-Qaeda affiliated Islamist rebels that have taken the northern part of the Western African country and instated a harsh sharia law threatening the southern part of the country, and capturing Konna, a key city just 375 miles outside of the capital Bamako, plans for a Western intervention were hastened.

With the help of neighboring African countries France intervened this Friday with air strikes that stopped the Islamist rebels progress into southern Mali and aided government forces in recapturing Konna.

French president Francois Hollande said that France cannot stand by and watch as Mali is taken by the al-Qaeda affiliated Islamist rebels, giving them an important base from which they can attack neighboring African countries and Europe.

“We are faced with blatant aggression that is threatening Mali’s very existence. France cannot accept this,” said President Hollande who added that an intervention  was sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council in December, making his actions in accordance with international law.

Mali a country of just 14 million people is Africa’s third biggest gold producer and also an important cotton grower. Mali is also home to the famous ancient city Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has hosted countless cultural events until fighting started in the Northern part of Mali.

Posted by James Fried on Saturday January 12 2013, 2:38 AM EST. Ref: Reuters. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0