Vive le France: French Intervention in Mali

Today's big story is the French decision to militarily intervene in the Mali conflict (aka the "Tuareg Rebellion"), which, over the course of the past year, has left northern Mali ("Azawad") in the hands of several militant Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.  Throughout the summer, fall, and winter of 2012, these Islamist groups, Ansar Dine and Jamaat at-Tawhid wa'al-Jihad (the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa), have consolidated their control over Azawad - turning on their erstwhile secular allies in the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA); imposing a strict, puritanical version of shari'a law; and engaging in tragic acts of cultural vandalism.  The Islamist rebels have also been pushing south, and, earlier this week, seized several towns in the central area of the fractured Malian state.  They are now threatening the military garrison town of Mopti, and several US aid groups in the area have been ordered to evacuate.  Here, courtesy of le Wikipedia, is a map depicting rebel gains as of yesterday, January 10:

Source: Wikipedia, "Northern Mali Conflict (2012 - Present)"

Now, into this maelstrom steps a man: a man who is willing to meet force with force and to stand firm in the face of terrorism.  Did George W. Bush hear the word "t'rrist", throw on his cowboy boots, and leap back onto his war horse?  No sir.  Allow me to introduce to you the new maestro of foreign intervention: Monsieur François Hollande, the socialist president of France.  Earlier today, Mr. Hollande gave a statement at the Élysée Palace in Paris, announcing France's decision to respond to the Malian government's request for military aid and stating that "French Armed Forces have, this afternoon, lent their support to Malian units to fight against these terrorist elements.  This operation will last for as long as necessary." Here is Mr. Hollande's full speech/statement: 

In the immediate wake of the French deployment, it has been reported that the Malian Army, backed by French forces, was able to retake the city of Konna from the Islamists.  

This story is, obviously, still developing.  I hope to write and comment on it further in the coming days, but, for now, here are a number of other stories about the French military intervention that you can look at:

• "France Sends Troops to Mali to Help Counter Islamist Threat" (NYT)
• "Mali and the Return of Françafrique" (FP "Passport" Blog, Joshua Keating)
• "French Troops Target Terrorists in Mali as Newest Shadow War Begins" (Danger Room)
• "French Military Deploys to Mali: What's Next?" (UN Dispatch)