An Cosantóir Dec 2016 / Jan 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie
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By PAUL O'BRIEN MA
I
n 2012, after a tuareg rebellion in northern Mali and a coup
d'etat by Amadou Sanogo, Mali and its people were left
with no recognisable governing body. Islamic extremists
exploited the vacuum, taking control of the northern provinc-
es, implementing sharia law, and advancing south at speed,
leaving death and destruction in their wake.
The resultant instability incurred sanctions and an em-
bargo by the Economic Community of African States.
On 11th January 2013, French military forces, at the re-
quest of an interim Malian government, and with the sup-
port of the Malian military, began a co-ordinated campaign
to retake the country. French air support, mechanised units,
and infantry, fought their way north, supported by Malian
troops, liberating occupied cities. By 30th January, Kidal, the
last of the three northern provincial capitals to be retaken
and the last remaining stronghold of the insurgents was
stormed and secured.
Since the conflict began in 2012, over 400,000 Malians
have been forced to flee their homes. The refugee catastro-
phe has further aggravated
the food crisis that has
affected an estimated 18
million people throughout
the Sahel region.
While the insurgents
have been defeated in the field, stability needs to be
maintained, as a further deterioration of the situation
would put at risk the fragile transition process in the
south, weaken state institutions and allow insurgent
organisations to regroup. Protection of the Malian people
and the re-establishment of peace in the country are of
the utmost importance in order to allow the population
to return to an everyday peaceful existence.
On 2nd February 2013, President François Hollande of
France appeared with Mali's interim president, Dioncounda
Traoré, in a show of solidarity at the recently recaptured city
of Timbuktu.
With the country retaken, the international community
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