Mali: US, UK to Bolster French Operation
By Staff Writer
BAMAKO--The United States has said it will provide assistance to the French forces battling Islamist rebels in Mali, as the UK government sets to discuss on offering further help in the North African nation operation.
The US government has already agreed to share intelligence information from its surveillance drones and spy satellites to assist the French. Washington pledged to provide transport planes to the French forces, but has yet to decide on whether it will offer refueling tankers for French warplanes.
"We are supporting the French operation in Mali with intelligence and airlift," said, the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton in Washington, after meeting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The US transport planes would likely be used to ferry French tanks, armoured vehicles and other heavy equipment.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said there could be a further assistance with transport and surveillance to bolster the French effort in Mali. Already the UK has lent two C17 cargo plane for the operation.
Speaking during his address to the house of commons on Monday, the UK premier said north Africa was becoming a "magnet for jihadists", referring to the recent attack on a gas plant in Algeria by Islamist militants in which at least 48 foreign hostages died, demanding France to halt its intervention in Mali.
"We must frustrate the terrorists with our security. We must beat them militarily. We must close down the ungoverned space in which they thrive and we must deal with the grievances they use to garner support." Said Mr Cameron.
The attack on the Algerian gas complex claimed by al-Qaeda linked militants in the region has been blamed on Algeria’s decision to allow France to use its airspace for airstrikes targeting Islamist rebels in Mali.
French President Francois Hollande has said his troops who will be reinforced to 2,500, will stay until stability returns to Mali, though it expects to swiftly hand the mission over to the West African regional bloc, Ecowas in efforts to reclaim the rebel-held north.
Ecowas secured a UN mandate in December to deploy a 3,300-strong force in Mali. First band of the Ecowas troops arrived in Mali on Thursday as more troops from member states are expected in the capital, Bamako, this week to reinforce the French and Malian troops already battling the Islamists.
France launched “Operation Serval” ten days ago, carrying out air strikes and ground assaults on installations held by Islamists.
Their recent advance southwards, threatening to overrun the capital Bamako prompted a request by the interim president for the former colonial powers to intervene at the height of the threat that would consequently risk security in the wider region.