France Mali Intervention: Responsible, yet risky move
Pramod Raj Sedhain
French President Francois Hollande took a dramatic, hard and fast decisive action by intervening in Mali. This was followed after a plea for help from Mali’s Interim President, Dioncounda Traore. The risky military operation happened much early than expected – merely two hours of receiving letter from the Malian President. On January 11, France began its military intervention in Mali. France is one of the few major global powers with the capacity to direct sole military intervention in a foreign country. In this surprised move, French government has promised its public a short war. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius last weekend said the intervention just “a matter of weeks”. But, during the initial day of air raids, French Military was surprised at the level of sophistication of the Islamist forces, which was well-armed, well-trained, experienced and determined than expected. Extremists clearly posed an imminent threat to southern Mali to Bamako, the entire regional security as well as the international community. France immediately decided ground operation and leading the regional military blocks. Ten months ago, a military coup in Mali ended more than two-decade stretch of elections, which had established the country as a democracy. The coup created a power vacuum in the north which the Islamist rebels would fill and now facing possible overthrow by jihadists. They came with loads of weapons hauled out of a chaotic Libya. The area is a vast desert region in the northern half of Mali - roughly the size of France. Ground troops began to prevent al-Qaeda from turning a country twice the size of France. France has deployed 2,500 troops and 3,300 troops deployed to members of regional bloc ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States). Regional group of sixteen countries ECOWAS tackles the Operational, Political & negotiating tactic as well as boost a French-backed offensive in Mali against Islamist rebels. Regional and international players accelerated the deployment of MISMA (International Mission for Mali Assistance). Certainly, former colonial power, French force maintained a high moral and confident frontline of Operation Serval (ongoing operation). The small French special force and air power was vital to achieve success against the jihadists in one of the most risk missions. Intervention is a clear indication that Mali is not another Afghanistan. French Mirage and Rafale jets, Gazelle helicopters increasingly destroyed the jihadi fighters' moral and warfare psychology in the desert, which clearly showed French intervention, was creating a right track and course.
French interest of intervention
In the context of Mali, the French position was bolder than that of the United States. French President Hollande says he is battling a "terrorist threat" on Europe's doorstep. He says the campaign in northern Mali will take as long as necessary. This could not be an easy choice for France, but the French leadership had no option than to risk letting the rebels reach Bamako and establish their headquarters in the capital city, as the Taliban did in Kabul in 1996. Al Qaeda linked rebels have repeatedly warned it could be another Afghanistan. Even several other groups and power centres in Mali have said that's not going to be easy for France. But at the request of the President of Mali, and respecting the United Nations' charter, France took the challenge to eject the terrorists, who are brutalizing northern Mali. But the intervention indicated President Hollande's statesmanship that took to surprise to many people for his hard and fast-risk decision, which has gotten a political boost in France. French media have praised the President's move, which includes the dire need to protect some 6,000 French nationals. In the African regional context, France still maintains strategic and military influence in the region. Relying on this region for nearly all the uranium that fuels French nuclear power plants. France has its military bases in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Chad and Djibouti. Some 12,000 French troops are currently engaged in peace-keeping operations around the world, nearly half are deployed in Africa. France has diversified interest in Africa where some 240,000 of its nationals live and 5 percent of France’s exports. France’s humanitarian intervention there saved thousands of lives and stabilized the region. French engagement in foreign intervention is not a new matter. It has a substantial military action and legacy of colonial history. Since 1960, France launched 50 military interventions in the African region. In 2011/12 France carried out air attack in Libya and Ivory Coast that led to change of regime. The central African government had asked France for military assistance but France has not given a clear response.
Surprise attack, quick support
The "surprised and silent" French intervention in Mali has rapidly changed the situation in Mali. Most of the Malians celebrated the arrival of French troops; regional military, international diplomatic and logistic support found the French led operation. They flew flags to welcome the EU, UN, AU, and French flags. Hundreds of people have been donating blood every day. The French military is getting direct support from Regional Country and logistical and other support from the US and EU brushing aside all suspucions. More to it, the UN Security Council has given a nod. This surely cannot be compared to Iraq or Afghanistan wars. Even the multi-national African force intervened in the French-backed northern Mali. West African nations have also scrambled their troops, with soldiers from Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Nigeria being mobilized by the African bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The foreign-policy chiefs of the European Union Special Session approved a contingent of several hundred troops to train Mali’s armed forces. EU approved sending 450 to 500 non-combat troops, half of them trainers, to Mali as quickly as possible. The EU picked 50 years old Brigadier General François Lecointre to head the mission. He has served throughout Africa with French forces in Gabon, Ivory Coast, Somalia, Rwanda and the Central African Republic. The mission has a 15-month mandate and will cost €12.3 million. The mission should be formally launched mid-February once final operations plans are agreed.
Challenges ahead
Challenges are ahead. It might be difficult to set a timeframe. The battle is still under way in the operational area that is just more than the size of France. This kind of military action presents the danger but under these circumstances, French quick operation takes the leadership to a regional military action. French military intervention has blocked rebel fighters advancing from the north and alley force have been retaken some strategical towns from the rebels. Sophisticated and well-trained rebels have suggered heavy losses due to the French effective air power and special ground force operations. Another concern, however, is still unanswered. What if France doesn't achieve its goals? It's not only the Malian and entire regional stability it's far from African territory and expands the global necessary engagement of war on terrorism. French President Hollande has clearly said that the hostage crisis in Algeria is evidend that France's military intervention in Mali is justified. But resolving the crisis and restoring the political and social stability in Mali is not an easy task. Unity and stability will only improve the political, social and economic situation of this poor, land-locked West African country. Complicated political situation, weak administrative and security organ, lack of neutral judiciary system, poverty, ethnic and separatist tensions, drug trafficking, instability, weak social and national institutions, drought and corruption are major problems of Mali. Mali's stability may depend upon some kind of autonomy arrangement for the north (more than half of the territory). Therefore, so many players and power centers have been engaged in Mali's complex and complicated situation. Different interested wings and factions play a vital role of Mali crisis - for instance - extremist Islamist rebels, ethnic rebels, military, politicians, as well as regional and international powers in the country with a population of 15.8 million. The major ethnic groups in Mali are 50 percent Mande, 17 percent Fula, 12 percent Voltaic, 10 percent Tuareg, 6 percent Songhai, and rest 5 percent. Malian economy is highly dependant on gold mining and agricultural exports such as cotton. The country needs political stability and long term plan. Large landlocked territory with an area of 1,240,192 sq km, Mali is the world's 24th largest country. Regional border is another major challenge for security and regional stability. France's military intervention is a final test of the Malian and regional key players. Mali needs power-sharing arrangement, effective leadership, transition back to constitutional order and built Malian Army counter-terrorism capabilities.
Source: People Review Weekly, Article)
