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Regional bloc ECOWAS seeks to stabilize Mali
Mali has continued its descent into chaos since then and is de facto split in two, with Islamist groups linked to Al-Qaeda controlling the north, a territory larger than France or Texas.
For ECOWAS the urgent priority is to reinforce and stabilize Mali’s transitional authorities in order to handle the crisis in the north.
The option of a military intervention by a regional force in order to restore the country’s territorial integrity is also on the table, though such a move would require the UN’s blessing.
The UN Security Council on Thursday passed a resolution calling for sanctions against Al-Qaeda-linked fighters blamed for the desecration of the tombs of Muslim saints.
The council expressed “deep concern” at the increased terrorist threat in the north due to the presence of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) fighters. The group has been blamed for kidnappings and attacks in several west and north African countries.
But the UN Security Council held back from giving a UN mandate to any West African force to help the interim government to take back territory from the Islamist rebels in the north.
Copyright 2012 AFP.
