The Roots of Mali’s Crisis

Cocaine, Islam, Nomad Pride: The Roots of Mali’s Crisis -- RIA Novosti

BAMAKO/SEVARE, Mali, February 6 (Alexey Eremenko, RIA Novosti) – Refugees at the camp in Sevare, a dusty town in central Mali, told RIA Novosti late last month that God is French.

Such exaltation has been rippling through much of the country, which managed to fight off an Islamist-tinged insurgency thanks to last month’s blitzkrieg intervention by the French Air Force. Red, white and blue French tricolors have been displayed all over Mali – for the first time, locals say, since the West African former colony gained independence in 1960.

The French may have stopped the rebels’ advance toward the capital, Bamako, but the year-old uprising is far from extinguished: Pro-government troops are still skirmishing with insurgents and Malian army officers worry that rebels have simply retreated to the Sahara or blended in with the local populace, and could launch a powerful new offensive as soon as French troops pull out.

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My Comment: A good summary on what brought about this particular rebellion and war. Bottom line .... the problems are still there, and in regards to the Tuaregs there has been no proposed solutions and/or willingness from the Malian government to accommodate their aspirations.