Hollande steps up France security over Mali and Somalia
Source: BBC News
French President Francois Hollande has ordered an increase in domestic security in the aftermath of military operations in Africa.
He was responding to the risk of Islamist attack after French forces intervened against militants in Mali.
A pilot was killed as France launched air strikes on a column of rebels.
Two French soldiers were "sacrificed" in a raid to free a French hostage in Somalia on Saturday, Mr Hollande said. The hostage was believed to have died.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20999348
= new reply since forum marked as read
Seriously....at this time, why are French Expats still there and the French Troops? This region is so dangerous, so hostile....what are the benefits versus the real costs both in monetary and human lives? Especially when France is in a financial crisis....
Let me guess....there are corporate interests there? 
Ps: i apologize for my ignorance on Mali and that region of West Africa....I know a little about Somalia and our role in that region, but not as much as I know about other regions. But it seems to me to make little or no sense for the French to be there anymore...
...seek help from its allies in fighting back extremist rebels who threaten not only the democratic governance of Mali but those of its neighbors? The French assault is paving the way for an ECOWAS intervention that has been requested by the government of Mali.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that France, Senegal and Nigeria have responded to an appeal from Mali's president for help to counter an offensive by al-Qaida-linked militants who control the northern half of the country and are heading south.
The U.N. chief said in an interview with The Associated Press that assisting the Malian defense forces push back against the Islamist armed groups is "very important." The militants captured the city of Konna on Thursday, and were threatening the city of Mopti, which has 100,000 inhabitants.
The secretary-general said he received a letter from Mali's President Dioncounda Traore on Thursday "informing me of his intention to request assistance from French government and other regional powers, which I have brought to (the) urgent attention of the Security Council."
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Ban responded to a question asking his assessment of the French military action by first referring to Security Council resolution 2085, adopted unanimously on Dec. 20, which authorized an African-led mission composed of regional forces to support Malian authorities in recovering the north — an area the size of Texas.
http://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-un-chief-says-mali-getting-more-233022158.html
IMHO this is what textbook international intervention should look like - by the book and for humanitarian purposes
Seriously....Thank you.... 
This is why I love DU!! I asked a serious question and got a real answer....As informed as many of us are, we cannot possibly always know a great deal about regions that are not discussed everyday in our media. Nor honestly how many of us could claim to know about Mali?
But what you presented here was a real bit of information that explained so much, changed my perspective and has led me to now want to seek more info and research.
Thanks! 
Thank you for being willing to look at this situation with an open mind.
Admittedly, the government of Mali has been far from perfect, it saw a military coup last spring and a subsequent return to the democratic path.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Malian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat
And there are real grievances about political power between the sub-Saharan ethnic groups (largely Mande) and the Tuareg's. However, an end of democracy and the installation of an extremist Islamist government in Mali is not in the national, regional, or international interest.
As someone who followed the fall of Gaddafi very closely, I think it is safe to say that this is in a very real way a spin-off of Gaddafis divisive policies combined with Al Qaeda style extremism.
Is war the solution to Mali's problems? Of course not, but the rule of one group of a minority Islamic extremists over a more moderate majority is not just as that is what this has been heading toward. What precipitated this military intervention was an advance by the rebels past the line of control that has existed since last Spring.
Perhaps this all is in the global capitalist interest, but withdrawing from global capitalism like Somalia has or the Taliban attempted to is not a solution to the problems of capitalism.
And with that, back to football.
And yes, human rights too. Show me otherwise without making reference to events no longer in the immediate path.
Also, you say "terrorism" like that's not the case: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda_Organization_in_the_Islamic_Maghreb
Did you feel sympathy for Gaddafi too?
Are you denouncing the UN entirely?
The direct support given in the past by the Gaddafi regime to these groups is well-publicized. Moreover, considering your stated anti-UN position ( 
) - I have a very hard time taking seriously anything you have to say on this topic, and others should too. Gaddafi used the Tuaregs to advance his own imperial ambitions. Whatever grievances they have against the other tribes are hardly legitimately borne out through terrorism and extremism.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2012/0215/Did-Qaddafi-downfall-prompt-Mali-s-Tuareg-revolt
Their way - is the way of death and misery - they will find no redemption in its path. 
Guess the Author of the thread can thank you for the kick???
