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January 18, 2013

West African Troops Arrive in Mali; U.S., EU Increase Involvement in Conflict 
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The United States ramped up its involvement in Mali's conflict Thursday
amid the hostage crisis, crafting plans to use its cargo planes for
shuttling French troops and equipment. Regional forces from West Africa
are joining the armed conflict against rebels who have occupied much of
Mali’s north since March. The European Union, meanwhile, is planning
to send about 500 soldiers and security forces to Mali for a 15-month
training mission. EU foreign ministers approved the plan and selected a
French general to lead the mission during a special meeting Thursday in
Brussels. After the meeting, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said
France had European support for its military efforts in the former
French colony.

Laurent Fabius: "All the EU countries have been expressed their
solidarity both with Mali and with France's intervention. All my
colleagues, without exception, have highlighted that they fully support
France's actions and they are all thankful that France reacted so
quickly. To quote the remarks of one of them, without France there would
have been no Mali."

Mali gained independence from France in 1960.

 

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