Islamist violence in Africa
French troops are fighting against Islamist rebels in Mali, while in the Sahara the Algerian army freed hundreds of people taken hostage by radical Islamists. How can Europe control the terror on its own doorstep?
Le Figaro - France | Monday, 4. February 2013
Three weeks after Operation Serval was launched in Mali, François Hollande visited the country on the weekend and promised it long-term support. The population gave the French president an enthusiastic welcome. But the conservative daily Le Figaro suspects that Hollande has yet to pass the acid test: » more
Three weeks after Operation Serval was launched in Mali, François Hollande visited the country on the weekend and promised it long-term support. The population gave the French president an enthusiastic welcome. But the conservative daily Le Figaro suspects that Hollande has yet to pass the acid test: "As the liberator of Timbuktu, Hollande has doubtless improved his image. ... But the offensive in Mali has not ended; it is now entering its most difficult phase. The seven [French] hostages [who have been kidnapped by Islamist rebels] have yet to be freed. And the Islamist threat that France faces both at home and in Mali won't be dispelled from one day to the next. A dramatic situation could arise any moment that may trigger a national debate about our mission in the country. Hollande has won a battle, but not the war - neither the war in Mali nor the war with French public opinion, whose priorities are miles away from the sand dunes of the Sahel."
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The Independent - United Kingdom | Thursday, 31. January 2013
Britain wants to support the French mission in Mali with up to 400 non-combatant soldiers, the British government announced on Tuesday. But there has never been any talk of sending ground troops, the left-liberal daily The Independent fumes: » more
Britain wants to support the French mission in Mali with up to 400 non-combatant soldiers, the British government announced on Tuesday. But there has never been any talk of sending ground troops, the left-liberal daily The Independent fumes: "Just a few weeks ago, intervention in Mali was to be a short, sharp, French-only mission. Britain was supplying two transport planes, but only as a nod to cross-Channel military co-operation. There would, the Prime Minister promised, be no boots on the ground. Now, however - with barely a blink and certainly no debate in Parliament - nearly 400 British military personnel are to be sent to the region. True, they will not be in combat; the majority will be training troops from Mali and its regional supporters. But the move looks alarmingly like mission creep nonetheless."
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Main focus of Wednesday, 30. January 2013
At a donor's conference in Addis Abeba, the international community has pledged roughly 456 million dollars for an African peace mission in Mali. France's President ... » more
At a donor's conference in Addis Abeba, the international community has pledged roughly 456 million dollars for an African peace mission in Mali. France's President François Hollande then announced that he intends to withdraw his troops from the country as quickly as possible. Now politicians must take command, commentators urge, putting their hopes in a peace plan for the entire region.
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Libération - France | Wednesday, 30. January 2013
The quick success attained by the French troops in Mali cannot hide the fact that the country and the entire region stand in need of a political solution, the left-liberal daily Libération writes: » more
The quick success attained by the French troops in Mali cannot hide the fact that the country and the entire region stand in need of a political solution, the left-liberal daily Libération writes: "The first phase of 'Operation Serval' is winding up like a blitzkrieg: after nineteen days the enemy has vanished without really trying to defend the fortresses that only yesterday it had subjected to the most barbarous of regimes. In this way François Hollande has countered the accusations of indecision and the threats of a protracted war with energy and efficiency. ... There can be no military solution to the Malian crisis - politicians must be quick to take up where armed conflict has left off. This is not just about rebuilding a state, its institutions and its army, but also about finding an answer to the issue of the [autonomy seeking] 'Tuareg', the precondition for isolating the terrorists. France and Europe may provide assistance, nevertheless this major task concerns first and foremost the African continent.”
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Helsingin Sanomat - Finland | Wednesday, 30. January 2013
France has been frequently accused of pursuing economic interests in the debate over its military mission in Mali. But it is Mali and its neighbours that stand to gain most from a politically stable Sahel region, the liberal daily Helsingin Sanomat points out: » more
France has been frequently accused of pursuing economic interests in the debate over its military mission in Mali. But it is Mali and its neighbours that stand to gain most from a politically stable Sahel region, the liberal daily Helsingin Sanomat points out: "The commentaries on Mali's mineral resources often fail to mention the fact that for example the uranium deposits have so far only been charted out. Mali mines gold, it's true, but for France gold doesn't have the same strategic value as uranium, not to mention cotton, Mali's most important raw material. Naturally a stable Sahel region would be in France's interest. A third of the uranium needed for French nuclear power plants is mined in neighbouring Nigeria, for instance. But if France's military operation stabilises the region this will help above all the countries situated in the region, first and foremost Mali. Naturally this can also help increase President François Hollande's waning popularity. But what good will a boost in popularity do him in the middle of his term? Would it be worth going to war for?"
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Le Temps - Switzerland | Wednesday, 30. January 2013
Since 1977 Mali has been a focus of Swiss development aid - particularly in the regions of Sikasso, Mopti and Timbuktu. Switzerland must support France with its good contacts to help secure peace in Mali, the liberal daily Le Temps urges: » more
Since 1977 Mali has been a focus of Swiss development aid - particularly in the regions of Sikasso, Mopti and Timbuktu. Switzerland must support France with its good contacts to help secure peace in Mali, the liberal daily Le Temps urges: "France believes that as a former colonial power in the region it plays a special role, and is all the more careful not to risk becoming bogged down in the conflict. For that reason it pretends not to know what awaits it. Nevertheless it will need all the help it can get - including the competence of Switzerland, whose contacts in the region are widely regarded as excellent. ... If Switzerland wants to continue being active, it will have to defend itself against the accusations of naive optimism while trying to push through its own perspective, above and beyond the reductionist views adopted by all of those who are looking for quick solutions, however inadequate they may be. France has its work cut out for it in ensuring that its war remains just right to the end. But Switzerland must also do what it can to ensure that its knowledge of the country serves this goal."
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Main focus of Tuesday, 29. January 2013
French and Malian soldiers brought the town of Timbuktu under their control on Monday, leaving only the provincial capital of Kidal in the hands of ... » more
French and Malian soldiers brought the town of Timbuktu under their control on Monday, leaving only the provincial capital of Kidal in the hands of radical Islamists. Commentators talk of an important victory in a battle that will be a long one and say that now it's time for politics to take the stage.
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Público - Portugal | Tuesday, 29. January 2013
The liberation of the cities of Timbuktu and before that of Gao is an important victory, but a cautious approach is still warranted, the liberal daily Público warns: » more
The liberation of the cities of Timbuktu and before that of Gao is an important victory, but a cautious approach is still warranted, the liberal daily Público warns: "This is the first major victory in this desert war which the French army is fighting practically single-handedly. … But we should not be deceived by these easy military successes. The jihadists were not ready to fight for the cities so they withdrew to the safety of the desert. It won't be easy to drive them out of their refuge. The threat has retreated but certainly not disappeared. Now the regional partners must understand the nature of the threat and make a correct diagnosis of the situation. It will be a long and tough battle that must be fought on several levels. … If the Africans don't make their contribution, there will be no long-term solution to this conflict."
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Corriere della Sera - Italy | Tuesday, 29. January 2013
Before withdrawing from Timbuktu the radical Islamists set fire to the ancient town's library and the priceless historical manuscripts it contained. In the summer they had also destroyed several mausoleums in the town's mosques. These cultural treasures have fallen victim to the fundamentalists' hatred of the West, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera writes: » more
Before withdrawing from Timbuktu the radical Islamists set fire to the ancient town's library and the priceless historical manuscripts it contained. In the summer they had also destroyed several mausoleums in the town's mosques. These cultural treasures have fallen victim to the fundamentalists' hatred of the West, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera writes: "Behind the destruction of the tombs and the manuscripts in Timbuktu was more than just the iconoclasm that aims to preserve the uniqueness of the worship of the one God. There was the desire to destroy a cultural legacy that enjoys the protection of Unesco and other 'foreign' institutions which are perceived as alien elements that must be eradicated. No religious prescription would permit the destruction of Koran scriptures or the memoirs of scholars. But anything goes when it comes to burning manuscripts and destroying tombs that the West, and not just the West, is watching over."
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taz - Germany | Tuesday, 29. January 2013
The recapture of the desert town Timbuktu is not the end of the conflict, writes the left-leaning daily taz and calls for a political concept for establishing peace in Mali: » more
The recapture of the desert town Timbuktu is not the end of the conflict, writes the left-leaning daily taz and calls for a political concept for establishing peace in Mali: "Mali could still become a 'second Afghanistan' even if the Islamists don't have any cities under their control. No matter how many soldiers the French army deploys, armed groups will always be able to take refuge in the vast desert region in the north. They can make the major roads unsafe and earn money with through trans-Saharan trade while the international troops set up their bases in the cities and the Malian government acts like this is all normal. A concept for restoring peace to northern Mali has yet to be found. The French military intervention has actually diminished the urgency of such a plan in the eyes of the Malian government. The dramatic events in Timbuktu only underscore how inadequate it is to put blind faith in the army. Now politics must take the stage."
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Aftonbladet - Sweden | Tuesday, 29. January 2013
It's not enough to just deploy troops in Mali, the social democratic daily Aftonbladet stresses: » more
It's not enough to just deploy troops in Mali, the social democratic daily Aftonbladet stresses: "You can't just shoot poverty and powerlessness out of existence. Nor can you bomb economic development and constitutional principles into being from a fighter jet. Creating long-term prospects is a task for civil society, and it will require time, commitment and funding from the EU. This commitment exists already, but how long will it last? The problem is that we're dealing with an interconnected region stretching from Afghanistan in the east over the Gulf of Aden and Somalia to Mali in West Africa, in which drugs and weapons circulate and crime is the order of the day. These lawless countries are an excellent breeding ground for international terrorism. Until now Europe has been pretty much helpless in face of this development. What's now happening in Mali should serve as a wake-up call."
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Corriere della Sera - Italy | Monday, 28. January 2013
Malian and French troops have reported that they gained control over access to the desert city of Timbuktu on Sunday. Europe has degraded itself in the role of a hanger-on in the Mali conflict, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera complains: » more
Malian and French troops have reported that they gained control over access to the desert city of Timbuktu on Sunday. Europe has degraded itself in the role of a hanger-on in the Mali conflict, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera complains: "Europe decided to leave France on its own, meaning that France's military operation has come across like a neo-colonial action aimed at protecting French interests. We had an alternative: we should have recognised that it was important for Europe to stop the advance of radical Islamism. We should have realised that it is the task of the 'political community' to confront this danger together and Europeanise the military operation in Mali. This way we would perhaps have created the conditions for more solidarity in Europe. For sure, that solidarity wouldn't have been enough to create a consolidated Europe, but at least we would have begun to reflect on it like a people who share a common destiny. But instead we opted for the hanger-on strategy. It's more convenient because it doesn't require a unifying force."
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Le Soir - Belgium | Monday, 21. January 2013
US President Barack Obama was sworn in on Monday for his second term in office. The liberal daily Le Soir observes that Obama no longer sees the US in the role of global policeman, and calls on Europe to defend security in Africa on its own: » more
US President Barack Obama was sworn in on Monday for his second term in office. The liberal daily Le Soir observes that Obama no longer sees the US in the role of global policeman, and calls on Europe to defend security in Africa on its own: "The quasi-simultaneity of the start of Barack Obama's second mandate and the events in Mali and Algeria must lead us Europeans to rethink our role and responsibilities in a world that is very different to what we are used to. The United States used to play the role of policeman, a role that was all the easier to criticise in that it offered us unconditional protection. Under Obama, the United States is now preoccupied with domestic challenges. Although it continues to commiserate, it is no longer willing to act in what it considers to be Europe's 'back yard', to use the old term. That's what François Hollande has understood. ... It has now become one of Europe's key challenges to promote stability and development in Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, with military means if necessary."
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The Guardian - United Kingdom | Sunday, 20. January 2013
At least three British citizens were among those killed in the hostage crisis in Algeria. In his statement on Sunday, Prime Minister David Cameron called for a "global response" to the terrorist threat. For the left-liberal daily The Guardian this is a telling example of Cameron's impatience on foreign policy issues: » more
At least three British citizens were among those killed in the hostage crisis in Algeria. In his statement on Sunday, Prime Minister David Cameron called for a "global response" to the terrorist threat. For the left-liberal daily The Guardian this is a telling example of Cameron's impatience on foreign policy issues: "Cameron's instinct is to roll up his sleeves and have a bash on the grounds that it must be better than doing nothing: pick a fight with Brussels, send in a taskforce, shake things up, kick some tyres. There is undeniably something of the bull in the china shop about it, as Kofi Annan seemed to be hinting when he described the unrest in Mali as collateral damage from that same war in Libya. But then again, the humanitarian catastrophe now unfolding in Syria confirms that while intervening sometimes carries a terrible price, so can doing nothing. As defence and foreign budgets shrink, while public resistance to anything that threatens mass casualties grows, we will need to get far smarter about where and how the west uses what muscle it still has."
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Monday, 21. January 2013
The hostage crisis in Algeria was only superficially connected to the military operations in Mali, the liberal-conservative Neue Zürcher Zeitung contends, arguing that the terrorists took advantage of the general commotion in the Arab world and in particular in Libya: » more
The hostage crisis in Algeria was only superficially connected to the military operations in Mali, the liberal-conservative Neue Zürcher Zeitung contends, arguing that the terrorists took advantage of the general commotion in the Arab world and in particular in Libya: "The attack on the plant of In Aménas was too big an operation to have been launched on the basis of a spontaneous decision. The French intervention in Mali may have provided nothing more than an opportune moment for a strike which had long been in planning. The attack had less to do with Mali than with the overthrow of the regime in Libya. It opened up Gaddafi's weapons arsenal, allowing Algerian terrorists to stock up on arms, and also opened up the borders, providing new places of refuge for terrorists in the neighbouring countries."
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Delo - Slovenia | Friday, 18. January 2013
The fact that radical Islamists clearly want to put an end to French military intervention in neighbouring Mali with their hostage-taking in Algeria shows that Europe has learned nothing from past mistakes, the left-liberal daily Delo writes: » more
The fact that radical Islamists clearly want to put an end to French military intervention in neighbouring Mali with their hostage-taking in Algeria shows that Europe has learned nothing from past mistakes, the left-liberal daily Delo writes: "It's as if Europe hasn't learned anything from Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, where nowadays no one dares intervene. As if we had no way of knowing that military force wouldn't get us anywhere. Armed superpowers may be able to drive the 'terrorists' into a corner for a while. But without the cooperation of local forces and their democratic maturity, any conflict will eventually turn into a colonial military occupation. After all its mistakes and after apparently having underestimated Africa and the Arab Spring, Europe is now facing its very own Afghanistan. To what extent common European foreign policy is to blame for this is a good question. Nevertheless it's clear that the repercussions will affect everyone and that the EU is not up to this task without help from the US."
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De Morgen - Belgium | Friday, 18. January 2013
The hostage drama in Algeria has turned the French intervention in Mali into an international conflict, the left-liberal daily De Morgen warns: » more
The hostage drama in Algeria has turned the French intervention in Mali into an international conflict, the left-liberal daily De Morgen warns: "'Boots on the ground' may sound harsh, but in today's Mali it refers to joining the fight against a conglomerate of heavily armed Islamist militia most of whom have ties to groups fighting in countries like Mauretania and Algeria. It has become evident in the past two days that this raises the risk of unforeseen complications. In Algeria, fighters attacked a BP gas plant in protest at the French intervention, taking 41 foreign nationals and 150 Algerians hostage. The Algerian army launched a risky attack against the plant yesterday, which has turned into a fiasco. ... The war in Mali has morphed from a serious regional conflict into an international crisis that puts citizens in Europe, Asia and the United States in a particularly dangerous situation."
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Il Sole 24 Ore - Italy | Friday, 18. January 2013
The bloodbath in Algeria proves that the military campaign in Mali is doomed to fail, political scientist Vittorio Emanuele Parsi contends in the liberal business paper Il Sole 24 Ore: » more
The bloodbath in Algeria proves that the military campaign in Mali is doomed to fail, political scientist Vittorio Emanuele Parsi contends in the liberal business paper Il Sole 24 Ore: "So far the only 'successes' of the new French military campaign in Africa have been two tragic side-effects: the hostage crisis in the gas field in Algeria and the death of a French hostage in Somalia. The conflict in Mali seems to be related to the last campaign to protect Europe in Libya. Particularly since the alleged 'victory' achieved through weapons in Libya it seems the use of violence - or war, to call a spade a spade - increasingly misses the political target in the name of which it was initiated. ... So instead of working out a perfect strategy and tactics it would be far more sensible to rely on the political and economic instruments at our disposal - before we found ourselves caught up in the umpteenth 'war against terrorism' out of which the military will have to extricate us because the politicians have been incapable of setting realistic goals and making available the justified and necessary resources."
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De Telegraaf - Netherlands | Thursday, 17. January 2013
The Dutch want to support France in the Mali conflict by deploying transport planes. The right decision, the conservative tabloid De Telegraaf writes: » more
The Dutch want to support France in the Mali conflict by deploying transport planes. The right decision, the conservative tabloid De Telegraaf writes: "Apart from the dangers posed by the territorial advances of a terrorist group, this problematic corner of Africa is facing a humanitarian disaster as a result of the huge flood of refugees the war could set in motion. For that reason the Dutch cannot just sit back and look on, but must join the international coalition against the rebels. ... But the government needs greater public approval even for this limited deployment. ... Because many Dutch citizens are concerned about the prospect of what could potentially be a protracted ground war under French leadership in a country situated in far-away Africa. A country that has been a wasps' nest for years and that has received a great deal of international development aid. For that reason there can be no question of a carte blanche for further Dutch military deployment."
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Lidové noviny - Czech Republic | Thursday, 17. January 2013
The foreign ministers of the EU states have convened for an emergency meeting in Brussels on the crisis in Mali this Thursday morning. It remains open whether France's desire for greater European involvement will be addressed. The conservative daily Lidové noviny advises against such action: » more
The foreign ministers of the EU states have convened for an emergency meeting in Brussels on the crisis in Mali this Thursday morning. It remains open whether France's desire for greater European involvement will be addressed. The conservative daily Lidové noviny advises against such action: "Is there any argument in favour of concerted European intervention? Paris would welcome greater commitment on Europe's part and has made no bones about this. Whether they like it or not the Europeans must, however, keep in mind that France in the end remains France and is doing what it always does. Let us remember where and how France defends its interests. When it comes to the Mediterranean, the Arab world and North Africa France is always active. But when in August 2008 Georgia had to fight off a Russian offensive it was Paris that opposed any steps against Moscow and threatened to put a stop to the EU partnership with the eastern states. With all due respect, it's only logical now that Mali is France's problem, not Europe's."
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El País - Spain | Thursday, 17. January 2013
Islamist militants have taken control of a natural gas field in Algeria on Wednesday. According to reports at least two people died during the attack and a number of foreigners have been taken hostage. Europe and Mali's neighbouring countries must join forces and back France's resolute action, the left-liberal daily El País urges: » more
Islamist militants have taken control of a natural gas field in Algeria on Wednesday. According to reports at least two people died during the attack and a number of foreigners have been taken hostage. Europe and Mali's neighbouring countries must join forces and back France's resolute action, the left-liberal daily El País urges: "Europe cannot allow a Jihad state to be created in Mali, practically on its doorstep. And nor can its neighbours allow this to happen. Above all Algeria, which until now has refused to act, has much to lose. The North African arm of al-Qaida attacked buildings and kidnapped an unspecified number of foreigners on its territory yesterday. ... With his decisive reaction, French President François Hollande has gained stature at home and abroad. But the objective cannot only be to 'destroy the terrorists', as he described his intention. This is not just about Mali, the entire Sahel has become an Islamist powder keg that must be defused. But to do that, weapons alone will not be enough."
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Thursday, 17. January 2013
In the battle against Islamist rebels France deployed ground forces in Mali on Wednesday. But military intervention won't be enough to establish enduring peace in the country, the liberal-conservative Neue Zürcher Zeitung contends: » more
In the battle against Islamist rebels France deployed ground forces in Mali on Wednesday. But military intervention won't be enough to establish enduring peace in the country, the liberal-conservative Neue Zürcher Zeitung contends: "In Africa, where regional organisations with a military component are still in the initial stages of development, the Nato states have no option but to take action when it comes to defending their security interests. ... The Europeans, as President François Hollande has rightly pointed out, can't simply delegate this unpleasant task to the US. ... One of the lessons Afghanistan has taught us is that the armed forces alone are not up to the task of fighting terrorism. They can temporarily force back rebels with well targeted strikes. ... But permanent peace can only come from an approach that takes account of all society and the deeper causes of political violence. Without credible local partners - this is another thing Afghanistan has taught us - any intervention from abroad runs the danger of eventually being perceived as an occupying regime."
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Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany | Wednesday, 16. January 2013
After new advances by the Islamist rebels in Mali, France now plans to boost its military presence in the country. A victory for the Islamists would represent a danger for Europe, the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung writes, fearing that the EU's joint security policy will once again fail: » more
After new advances by the Islamist rebels in Mali, France now plans to boost its military presence in the country. A victory for the Islamists would represent a danger for Europe, the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung writes, fearing that the EU's joint security policy will once again fail: "When Paris launches a military mission and gets no more from its European colleagues than a fraternal pat on the back and a couple of transport planes, something is definitely wrong in the European Union. ... Europe's security policy suffers from disunity, incompetence and a lack of resolve. And all that is not going to change any time soon. Nevertheless other Europeans must now provide Paris with military aid. This is a question of solidarity, but also of long-term rationality. Anyone who wants to pave the way for a true European security policy must not run the risk of Paris having to call on Nato because it has no one else to turn to. Because that would furnish the final proof that the Europeans simply can't get their act together on this front."
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Lidové noviny - Czech Republic | Tuesday, 15. January 2013
France now has the backing of the UN Security Council for its military operations in Mali. The conservative daily Lidové noviny finds it strange that no one is objecting to this intervention whereas the US is always faced with protests when it undertakes such action: » more
France now has the backing of the UN Security Council for its military operations in Mali. The conservative daily Lidové noviny finds it strange that no one is objecting to this intervention whereas the US is always faced with protests when it undertakes such action: "Since 1960 the French have intervened more than 50 times in Africa. They fought in Chad and in the undeclared war with Libya, protected the regimes in Djibouti and in the Central African Republic against rebels, prevented a coup in the Comoro Islands and fought in Ivory Coast. Whether it was about defending economic interests, protecting French citizens or demonstrating France's strength as a major power, the tenants at the Élysée Palace, both on the left and on the right, have often revealed a propensity for unilateral action. ... But no one has ever protested. ... If the US intervened with such vehemence there would be never-ending protests in Europe. And the US embassy would be besieged by infuriated diplomats - above all French ones."
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De Volkskrant - Netherlands | Tuesday, 15. January 2013
France's intervention in Mali is a necessary evil, the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant writes: » more
France's intervention in Mali is a necessary evil, the left-liberal daily De Volkskrant writes: "President Hollande quite rightly fears that a Salafist, terrorist state that is only a five-hour flight away would pose a threat for all Europe. Because the entire region could fall into Salafist hands after Mali. A 'Sahelistan' on Europe's doorstep would be unacceptable. ... 'Operation Serval' was inevitable. How dangerous the initiative will be for French hostages in Mali remains to be seen. France will have factored in this risk, as with the risk of terrorist attacks in France. But sometimes there is no alternative and intervention is the lesser evil. No one wants another Afghanistan, Iraq or Libya. ... The biggest question now is: who will rebuild Mali and how once the Salafists have been driven out?"
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Le Figaro - France | Tuesday, 15. January 2013
France's military intervention against Islamist rebels in Mali is entirely warranted, the conservative daily Le Figaro writes: » more
France's military intervention against Islamist rebels in Mali is entirely warranted, the conservative daily Le Figaro writes: "In helping Mali to prevent the Sahel zone from becoming a terrorist sanctuary, France is adopting the role cut out for it in its immediate environment. The determination which President Hollande has demonstrated in taking military action deserves praise. It makes clear that our country will not cede to Islamist blackmail and will not abandon its allies in the face of external aggression. This is about adhering to our principles without being distracted by those who ceaselessly question our intentions in Africa. In addition, the actions of our forces have been condoned by all of our partners. It would be saddening if the legitimate concerns sparked by all armed intervention were to result in the resolute action generally being called into question in our country."
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La Vanguardia - Spain | Tuesday, 15. January 2013
With their military intervention in Mali the French have averted the danger of radical Islamists assuming power for now, the liberal-conservative daily La Vanguardia points out, but says the risks of such combat operations are not controllable: » more
With their military intervention in Mali the French have averted the danger of radical Islamists assuming power for now, the liberal-conservative daily La Vanguardia points out, but says the risks of such combat operations are not controllable: "The risky French intervention - which has been criticised as neo-colonialist by the Algerian press - is being conducted under the pretext of helping secure a failed state. But with such operations you only know how they begin, not how they will end. However it is also true that non-intervention would have led to the extremists taking over the country, with all the repercussions that would have for the region. The first few days of combat have prevented this for the time being, but truly saving the country will be a tremendously difficult task."
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Tages-Anzeiger - Switzerland | Monday, 14. January 2013
France joined the troops of the Mali government in their fight against Islamist militants in the country on Friday. The conflict is to be discussed at a special meeting of the UN Security Council today, Monday. The Tages-Anzeiger urges Western states to provide more than just military support: » more
France joined the troops of the Mali government in their fight against Islamist militants in the country on Friday. The conflict is to be discussed at a special meeting of the UN Security Council today, Monday. The Tages-Anzeiger urges Western states to provide more than just military support: "The British and the Americans are also getting involved and thus countering the impression that the French President has embarked on an independent neo-colonialist initiative. … The entire region wants an end to the crisis in Mali. It already has enough to worry about: 18 million people have too little to eat, the desert is spreading and the growing young population has very limited chances of employment. This makes the slogans of those who cast themselves as holy warriors all the more seductive. But even if the Islamists are driven away, West Africa's problems remain unresolved. Long-term commitment is needed, for example with fair trade policies for mineral resources. France continues to buy uranium from West Africa for its nuclear industry for ridiculously low prices - in the style of an old colonial power."
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