3
Mali Fears France Leaving
By Gabrielle Clare
The French troops came to help Mali in 2013 in response to attacks from Islamic rebels. The rebels invaded various cities in Mali after the government of Mali was overthrown because of a setback in the democracy and order in the country was falling apart. The French now would like to pull their troops out of Mali so that Mali can establish their independence from the French, who had control of Mali until 1968.
I think that the French should leave a section of the troops in Mali to help, but I also believe the Malinese government needs to take responsibility for their own country. They need to establish themselves as sovereign nation and train their troops to solve their own internal battles/struggles.
France does not want to have responsibility for keeping the country peaceful on behalf of the government of Mali. While the French plan to leave 1,000 of the 4,000 original French troops in Mali to help, they want Mali and other African countries to take control and responsibility for running their own country. France believes the government of Mali will need to do this to ensure a better future.
Many of the residents in Mali fear that when the French troops leave, the Islamic rebels will come back and U.N. forces will not be enough to keep them out. Even though there are still rebels, the French did a good job of pushing them out of Mali.
In addition, the French and German armies recently offered training help to the Mali military to improve their skills. The improved Malinese army, along with U.N. forces that contain over 12,000 soldiers plus the leftover French troops, hopefully will fight as strongly as they need to hold the rebels back and to make Mali peaceful.
Mali finally held elections and a previous president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was re-elected. Mali should now be able to realize what they need to do for the country and use assets carefully to make their country better. Which will help Mali to not lean on France all the time.
The French were right there when Mali needed help to fight the Islamic troops and they plan to keep helping Mali but with fewer troops. Mali should now be able to succeed without the French there all the time and they need to take ownership and make changes. Hopefully with a new president and a stronger military, positive changes will ensure a bright future for Mali.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/03/us-mali-france-idUSBRE9320HY20130403