Malian War: French Military Units Move Further Into Northern Region
Abayomi Azikiwe
The 4th Wire
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Special Forces deployed by Paris to Niger to “secure” uranium mines
Reports emanating from the West African state of Mali indicate that
French grounds forces accompanied by the national army from the capital
of Bamako–along with a small contingent of regional troops from Niger,
Burkina Faso, Togo, Senegal, Benin, Chad and Nigeria–are moving towards
the northern historic city of Timbuktu. Although there has been a media
blockade by the French and Malian governments about the impact of the
war, details of the conditions taking place inside the country are
emerging.
In the northern city of Gao, French and Malian forces claim that they
have taken the airport and are moving to occupy the city. A military
press release from Paris stated that they were fired on by “Al-Qaeda
linked terrorist elements who were destroyed.” (Associated Press,
January 28)
Nonetheless, the ministry of defense in France has attempted to
sanitize the actual situation in the contested areas. One report
asserted that no civilians have been killed in the imperialist military
operations, although other news agencies have contradicted these
statements.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a press
release issued on January 22, stated that “As air bombing and fighting
continue in Mali refugees are continuing to cross into neighboring
countries. In Mauritania, 4,208 Malian refugees have arrived since
January 11.” (UNHCR)
This same media advisory continues noting that “After being
registered at the Fassala transit center, they are being transported
further inland to the Mbera refugee camp which is already hosting 55,221
people from earlier displacements.” During the same time period 1,300
refugees have arrived in Niger and 1,829 entered Burkina Faso.
Malians arriving in these neighboring states say that they are
fleeing air strikes being carried out by French fighter jets. They are
complaining about shortages of food, fuel and water. Many new arrivals
are traveling in vehicles, but others are on foot and donkeys.
The refugees are anticipating that other members of their families
will be crossing the borders very soon. Since the escalation of fighting
in the north of Mali in January 2012, which was largely the result of
the U.S.-NATO war against Libya, some 147,000 refugees have fled the
country.
Inside the country, the UNHCR reports that 229,000 people have been
internally displaced mainly from the areas around Kidal, Timbuktu and
Gao. The UN refugee agency is assisting by providing food, water and
shelter for the internally displaced as well.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced recently that the
international body would not directly participate or authorize the
deployment of troops under its authority. Ki-moon cited the humanitarian
work carried out by the UN agencies, saying that the organization’s
direct involvement would jeopardize the safety and security of its
personnel.
Meanwhile the United States military is providing C-17 air transport
for the French troops and equipment entering Mali. The Obama
administration has pledged its support to the invasion and occupation of
Mali where the Pentagon has maintained close ties with the national
army.
Other NATO states are also participating in the war including
Britain, Canada, Denmark and Italy. The Italian government announced on
January 28 that it could not continue its support for the French war in
Mali without the support of the parliament.
War Spreading to Niger
France announced that it would also deploy Special Forces units to
neighboring Niger to guard the Areva uranium mines. The mines provide up
to 70 percent of the uranium utilized to power its nuclear power
reactors in France.
The mines are located in the areas around the towns of Arlit and
Imouraren. Areva maintains operations in Canada, Kazakhstan as well as
Niger.
Areva is the second largest uranium mining producer in the world. The mines in Niger are critical to its operations globally.
Just last year in October, the Niger government complained to Areva
about the slow pace of its operations aimed at uranium production at the
Imouraren site. Several personnel working at the mines were kidnapped
during 2010 creating a serious security problem for the firm.
Also there were labor disputes in early 2012 among the construction
workers at the Imouraren mines. The delays strained relations with the
Niger government which threatened to withdraw support if the firm could
not meet its construction deadlines.
France, a former colonial power in Africa, still maintains troops in
various states on the continent including Gabon, Ivory Coast, Central
African Republic, Niger and others. The U.S., which is expanding its
military presence in Africa with the deployment of an additional 3,500
troops to 35 states, is therefore a natural ally of France in the
imperialist expansion in the region.
Africa is becoming even more important in the supply of strategic
resources essential for the maintenance of the industrial status of the
western states. Oil, natural gas, coltan, platinum and uranium exist in
abundance throughout the continent.
In addition to these resources, new findings have taken place over
the last year in regard to natural gas and oil in East Africa.
Explorations are ongoing in Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia as well as
offshore areas in the Indian Ocean.
New Attacks in Algeria
On January 27, there was an attack carried out at the Ain Chikh
natural gas pipeline in the Djebahia region of northern Algeria, some 75
miles east of the capital of Algiers. Initial reports indicated that
two security guards were killed and five others were wounded.
Algeria was the scene of the seizure of the In Amenas gas field by an
Islamist armed group purportedly headed by Mohktar BelMohktar of the
“Signatories of Blood.” Algerian military forces stormed the plant on
two occasions releasing hundreds of workers but the seizure resulted in
the deaths of at least 81 people.
The war initiated by France against Mali, purportedly designed to
prevent “Islamist extremists” from taking control of the entire country,
has worsened the security situation throughout the region. U.S. trained
Malian military personnel staged a coup against the democratically
elected government in Bamako on March 22, after the army failed to mount
an effective counter-attack against the Tuareg fighters in the north.
Opposition Grows to the Imperialist War in West and North Africa
More organizations are coming out against the French bombing and
occupation of Mali, the spreading of the war into neighboring states and
the support being provided by various NATO states. Workers World
issued an editorial in its January 31 issue calling for the withdrawal
of imperialist forces from the country.
Also Fightback! News, the website of the Freedom Road Socialist
Organization (FRSO), published a statement opposing the intervention. A
demonstration was held on January 23 in Minneapolis involving peace
activists organized by the Women Against Military Madness (WAMM)
chanting “No U.S. Drones to Mali, No U.S. Intervention in Mali!”
The United National Anti-War Coalition (UNAC), a broad-based
coalition of various groups from around the U.S., had already issued a
statement opposing intervention in Mali prior to the French bombing and
ground invasion which began January 11. The organizations’
administrative committee and coordinating committee has held two
national conference calls on the situation inside Mali and the region.
UNAC will be issuing another statement updating its position on the
current crisis. Plans are also underway for a national tour featuring
people from the U.S. and Pakistan who are opposing the Pentagon and
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) drone program that is devastating
countries throughout Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Mr. Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire, is one of the frequent contributors for The 4th Media.
