Starting one year ago, the war torn country of Mali had been saved by the support of French troops. Now the French believe their work is done and are retreating out of Mali. A retreat would leave Mali unprotected and susceptible to another terrorist take over. The UN could help but it would take a lot of resources and time to switch the UN troops in for the French. France helped save Mali but now that they have done so, is it right for them to just pack up and leave?
Mali is not the only country on the African continent that is going through a hard time right now: “On December 20, 2012, the United Nations Security Council authorised military intervention in Mali to reclaim northern territories seized last year by Islamist groups...” but their is the “... conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo also dominated UN Security Council deliberations on Africa last year... In West Africa, Guinea-Bissau may degenerate into civil war... The recent rebel insurgency in the Central African Republic may spawn similar movements in other countries, especially where central governments only have nominal control over large swaths of territory.” (Akukwe, 2013) In fact, there are fourteen other countries in Africa that are having some hostile conflict. The problem with these countries is that there is so much poverty and so much killing and war that it is hard for them to escape. The people of Mali were born into a conflict that, without help from the outside, they can’t get away from: “‘We asked the French to come and help us,’ says Colonel Seydou Kone, the commanding officer, referring to the last fighting that rocked the city on 30 March-1 April. After a night of non-stop gun battles against a group of Islamist militants, Malian soldiers found themselves completely overwhelmed. ‘It is fair to say that we couldn't have made it without the French,’ Col. Kone confessed.” (Fessy, 2013) The government had absolutely no control over all of northern Mali. They were out of options and didn’t know what to do. They were fighting a losing battle and they needed help from someone. So they asked France.
France was a good option since Mali and France have good relations. Mali used to be a French owned colony so it was a likely choice. France decided that it could help and immediately sent troops to take back the north. Over the next year, the Islamist groups were over run and the north recaptured.
don't have the means to carry out their mission, they will feel like they are in conquered land - they will easily
France had different goals coming in then Mali thought: “They intervened in Mali to hunt members of al-Qaeda's North African branch and its allied Islamist groups not where they may strike, but from where they plan their operations. Paris believes its military task is nearly accomplished.In fact, the French say they are ready to hand over cities like Timbuktu to African forces.” France felt their job was done and started a removal of all of its troops The problem is that currently at this moment in time,
Malian and French Troops recuperate after a day of peace-making