Category Archives: Mali

What to make of this? Tuareg rebels in Mali say they have defeated government forces in heavy fighting for control of the key northern town of Kidal.  Several government soldiers were killed or captured, a rebel spokesman said. The government … Continue reading →

For example this NPR fairly glib reporting… The region of Africa known as the Sahel is a grassy band running coast to coast along the southern edge of the Sahara. It always has faced periods of drought, but now they’re … Continue reading →

Plus que le discours plutôt convenu du nouveau président malien, c’est la présence de l’ancien chef de l’Etat Moussa Traoré et les compliments à son égard d’IBK, que retient Le Républicain, autre quotidien bamakois. «L’ancien président Moussa Traoré, qui a … Continue reading →

Le nouveau président élu du Mali est né en 1945 à Koutiala, la capitale cotonnière du sud-est du pays. Il a étudié en France l’histoire et les relations internationales, puis a enseigné dans le supérieur. De retour au Mali, il … Continue reading →

Everyone always mentions how corrupt the ATT regime became in Bamako and that is what led to the disillusion and civic disengagement, and eventually the stunning “fuite” of a sitting president jumping over a wall running away from presidential palace … Continue reading →

Given the 20 year history of massacres and killings in the region, economic incentives to control power, huge escalation in weaponry over last year, and disarray in Malian army, it seems too much to think that suddenly there would be … Continue reading →

Speech by General Carter Ham.  (HT Sahel Blog).  Seems like they should be aiming for something more enduring than a return to what was, in hindsight, a terribly unstable situation. “Realistically, we would all like to see the elimination of … Continue reading →

Someday we will know the insider story, but my only hypothesis, really, is that some analyst suddenly realized that the Islamists could come all the way to Bamako (in one day, as did JEM in 2008 in Omdurman and also … Continue reading →

Mali was launching pad for the infamous French foray into Sahelian Africa…. here’s a repost from this past June.  I am sure the book and movie are doing very well right now. Despite the ridiculous (truly!) cover this novelization of … Continue reading →

At the same time, the crash in Mali has revealed some details of the commandos’ clandestine activities that apparently had little to do with counterterrorism. The women killed in the wreck were identified as Moroccan prostitutes who had been riding … Continue reading →

The list of misspellings and lazy deadline-induced must-have-story-now inaccuracies is stunning…. all a repeat of Mamdani’s 999 mistakes when writing about Darfur…. The latest … OK maybe was just some kid who didn’t know there are actually two countries with … Continue reading →

Arc-boutés sur une position offensive dont ils n’ont pas les moyens (ni l’ambition, les « va-t-en guerre » vont rentrer dans leur coquille : « ça tue dehors » comme on disait en Côte d’Ivoire en octobre 2000), les militaires … Continue reading →

via BBC News – Mali Islamists ‘enter’ Konna after clashes with army. Militants Islamist in Mali say they have entered the key central town of Konna, advancing further into government-held territory. This is the most serious fighting since Islamist groups … Continue reading →

Pour être plus précis, des militaires l’attendraient à l’aéroport. Il décide, tête baissée, de foncer à l’aéroport de Bamako-Sénou, mais fini par renoncer. Il faut dire, toujours selon la famille de l’ancien Premier ministre, qu’entre temps, un diplomate de l’ambassade … Continue reading →