African, Western Powers Gird
For Military Intervention in Mali

Algeria and Burkina Faso will handle the political side of the United Nations Security Council’s resolution regarding Mali.

About This Article

Summary : West African nations, France and the United States met this week in Paris to consider a military intervention in Mali to disarm rogue militant groups, with US forces likely to take a leading role, Atef Kadadra reports. Publisher: El-Khabar (Algeria) Original Title: Pentagon Involved In Determining a Strategy To Resolve The Mali Crisis Author: Atef Kadadra First Published: October 24, 2012 Posted on: October 25 2012 Translated by: Sahar Ghoussoub Categories : Algeria   Security

In a meeting with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), France and the African Union in Paris on Oct. 22, participants discussed the military plans of the resolution, which will be strategically implemented by United States army commanders.

Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci held a meeting with the Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Djibril Bassole.

Meanwhile, delegations representing the African Union, the US and ECOWAS, held a meeting in the French Officers Club in Paris in order to allocate roles in the wake of the Bamako meeting that took place on Friday [Oct.19].

It has been decided that Algeria and Burkina Faso are to assume the political part of the decision and seek to persuade armed movements [within Mali] “that reject terrorism” to start a dialogue with the Malian government. Meanwhile, the rest of the group will address military plans.

It has been reported that the Paris meeting, which lasted until yesterday [Oct. 23], was held at the Center for Planning and Operations Commands of the Chief of the Defense Staff.

The meeting was attended by Johnnie Carson, who is in charge of African affairs in the US State Department, and army Maj. Gen. Charles Hooper, chief of strategic planning in the Pentagon leadership for Africa.

According to sources, the meeting aimed at allocating roles in military operations, which are expected to take place early next year. The meeting also addressed the mission that was entrusted to African forces that will take over from initial military operations, as well as ways to consolidate the Malian army’s capacity.

The U.S. is directly involved in developing military plans to be implemented in northern Mali. Paris is expecting the arrival of U.S. officers to help set out a land and aerial military strategy.

It has been also reported that a military group affiliated with the European Union has been present in Bamako in order to develop plans to deal with the situation on the ground.

French experts are to discuss the results of the meeting with the French Chief of Staff and Malian military officials.

According to some sources, Algeria and Burkina Faso are to mediate between the different armed groups throughout the period set by the UN Security Council pursuant to its memorandum no. 2071, which outlines the solution to this crisis.

Algeria is looking forward to the decision of the Security Council and of the African Union, which was supposed to be finalized on Oct. 24, and will either adopt or reject the final statement of the Bamako meeting. However, it seems that Algeria has already begun tackling the political aspect of the UN’s decision. It is also known that Burkina Faso has close ties with the leaders of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azwad (MNLA) and the Ansar Dine movement, the majority of whom are currently in Burkina Faso.

In the same context, the Ansar Dine movement, which controls large areas of northern Mali, declared its adherence to “all the terms of the agreement signed with MNLA on May,” stressing that this agreement serves an “essential reference” for unity between the two parties.

In a statement, the group said it considers “the agreement as an essential reference for unity between the two parties.”

They also called for “forming a joint committee to follow up on and implement the agreement.”