Mali: France to Start Pullout from Mali in March

Bamako---France has said it plans to begin pulling out its troops in Mali in March, but in the meantime its military operations in the West African nation will continue with the campaign to push Islamist militants out of territories they hold.

Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister said that the joint French, Malian forces offence in northern Mali will continue with its operation to completely rid the region of the 10-month rebel rule.

“We will continue to act in the north where some terrorist havens remain,” said Fabius during an interview with French newspaper, Metro.

“I think that from March, if everything goes according to plan, the number of French troops should fall.”

So far France has some 4,000 ground troops as well as warplanes and armoured vehicles deployed in Mali since the launch of its operation ‘Serval’ three weeks ago.  

Islamist militants holding the desert north had in recent weeks threatened to overrun the capital, Bamako, following their incursion southwards that saw Malian government seek French intervention.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday that the French and Malian troops were battling with Islamist fighters near Mali’s northern city of Gao in the on going clashes.

"When you leave the centre of captured cities, you meet jihadis left behind," Mr Le Drian told France's Europe 1 Radio.

Heavy fire was reportedly heard in the centre of the city on Tuesday in the clashes between the French forces and the militants who are said to have tried to launch a rocket attack on a Malian military camp, prompting the French intervention.

The French forces are now due to hand over to the 8000-strong UN-backed African Union mission, AFISMA, which has around 3,800 of its forces already deployed. The French forces are expected to hand over the historic Timbuktu city to the African forces this week.

Earlier this week officials from the UN, European Union, African Union, World Bank and other western nations met in Brussels to discuss Mali’s future. The said talks are on consideration of holding elections in July as well as international military and humanitarian assistance.

France has independently said it will help rebuild Mali once the military campaign in Mali is over.

Kenya: US President Call for Peaceful Kenyan Polls

Nairobi---US President Barack Obama has called on Kenyans to exercise unity and allow free and fair vote in the country’s upcoming general elections due next month.

President Obama’s message comes ahead of a general elections scheduled on March 4, following a devastating violence that rocked the country after the disputed presidential elections in 2007.

In his videotaped message addressed to the people of Kenya, President Obama said the upcoming elections were “a historic opportunity for Kenyans to stand together as a nation for peace and progress, and for the rule of Law.”

“The people of Kenya must come together before and after the election to carry on the work of building your country," said Obama in his video message.

Obama urged Kenyans to put aside tribal and ethnic differences to clearly reject violence and resolve election disputes in court rather than on the streets saying that his government will respect eventual winner of the polls.

"Kenya must reject intimidation and violence and allow a free and fair vote. Kenyans must resolve disputes in the courts, not in the streets," he said.

He called for Kenyans to unite together as the country prepares to mark 50th anniversary of independence, saying he was "greatly moved" by the "warmth and spirit, the strength and resolve of the Kenyan people" during several trips to his father's homeland.

“It is a moment to put strife and impunity firmly in the past, and to embrace a bright and peaceful future. To all that are willing to walk this path of progress, you will continue to have a strong friend and partner in the United States of America.” He added.

The general elections become the first vote to be held under the new constitution passed during the August 2010 referendum under which a semi-devolved system of governance was introduced, but will become effective after the polls.

The presidential race has attracted eight candidates with top most contenders being Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta. Opinion polls have shown Mr Odinga to be on the lead with a slight margin against Mr Kenyatta in the widened gap between the two and other candidates.

Under the new constitution presidential contenders requires a 50 plus one percentage in the total ballot cast to be declared an outright winner, failure to which a run-off will be held.

Other elective positions in the March 4 vote include those of Senators, County Governors, Members of Parliament, Civic Wards and Women County Representatives.