France rolls north in Mali, but daunting second phase looms
French troops entered the once Islamist-occupied city of Kidal today without opposition. But dealing with Islamist guerrillas and placating secular Taureg rebels will likely prove more difficult.
French troops entered the once Islamist-occupied city of Kidal today without opposition. But dealing with Islamist guerrillas and placating secular Taureg rebels will likely prove more difficult.
鈥� A daily summary of global reports on security issues.
Only 24 hours after securing the city of Timbuktu, French troops have taken control of the airport in one of the last major northern cities in Mali today, part of their northern sweep to clear the country of Islamist militants.
This could 鈥渕ark the end of the first phase of the French military intervention,鈥� reports the BBC, though 鈥渢he difficult task of chasing the fighters down across the vast desert鈥� still remains.
French troops arrived last night on four planes, and were not met by force or resistance in Kidal, the capital of a desert region with the same name, reports the Associated Press. The airport has been secured, but it is unclear whether or not the city itself has been overtaken. A French general based in Paris noted that the operation in Kidal was 鈥渙ngoing.鈥�
According to the Financial Times, The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), a secular group that aims to liberate northern Mali for the ethnic Tuareg, claims it entered the city on Monday and that Islamist militants had already fled.
The MNLA, which has been fighting for Taureg independence from Mali for more than 50 years, says that it is willing to work with the French to track down and eradicate terrorism in the country, however it refuses the return of the Malian army to Kidal, reports the BBC.
鈥淵ou are talking about two different armies. We have direct contact with the French and we have asked them for a co-ordinated approach against the terrorists. But the Malian army has nothing to do in Kidal,鈥� Mossa Ag Attaher, a spokesman for the MNLA told the Financial Times.
Mr. Attaher noted that fighters have defected from a Tuareg-led Islamist group Ansar Dine to the MNLA since France first stepped into Mali at the behest of its president earlier this month. The blurring of lines between these groups and the persistence of the MNLA鈥檚 grievances is but one of the complications faced in Mali after the initial success of French and accompanying Malian troops overtaking some of its major northern cities including Gao and Timbuktu. The FT reports:
As talk of France鈥檚 success spreads 鈥� including French President Fran莽oise Hollande鈥檚 mention that France 鈥渋s winning in Mali" 鈥� and it becomes more evident that the French hope to transition out of Mali, handing off control to Malian and African forces, some warn there are important past lessons to heed. The Los Angeles Times reports 鈥渓essons learned in the Western intervention in Libya less than two years ago caution against a premature retreat by the French and their arm's-length U.S. and European allies...鈥�
An opinion in Al Jazeera notes another challenge facing Mali: Islamist militants in Mali have 鈥渁lready switched from occupation to insurgency mode. Holding cities is no longer part of their strategy,鈥� writes Andy Morgan, an author of Tuareg history and former manager of Tuareg music groups.
But many locals whose cities were liberated over the weekend and this week may be more concerned with their immediate security, and feelings of reprisal are starting to bubble in some areas, reports The New York Times.
鈥淭he city is free, but I think the areas close by are still dangerous,鈥� said Mahamane Tour茅, a Gao resident reached by telephone from Bamako, the capital. 鈥淭hese guys are out there,鈥� Mr. Tour茅 said, referring to Islamist militants that controlled his city for months.