Few would have guessed that, after the global community’s most successful intervention in Libya of this century, chaos would have resulted in Mali. The toppling of Gadhafi in Libya created an intense exodus of violent and armed gangs from a country that, at one time, they could run freely. Some are part of organized militias with links to al-Qaeda.
Once their benefactor, Muammar Gadhafi, was killed, these militias moved into Mali. In March, they staged a coup against the government and seized much of northern Mali. They now effectively rule the region. Drug traffickers and criminals roam freely, the government has lost all control, and the militants have imposed a strict interpretation of Islam on all aspects of social life — reminiscent of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan during the 90Ts. Malians have fled, and they are now frustrated by the government’s inability to protect its people.
The growing insurgency has produced the greatest backlash from the European Union. France leads calls for military action in Mali, while several EU nations have banded together to provide military training for the Malian government to combat these militias. However, it was reported by the EU that it could take weeks before a concrete set of steps would be developed on what could be done about the situation. Of course, with a U.S. presidential election merely a few days away, there is no chance that America will involve itself with a risky intervention of any kind. The Economic Community of West African States has sent aid and training to the Malian government, but their overall power is limited. A recent UN Security Council resolution opens the possibility of intervention in Mali, but further steps have not been taken and could be blocked by Russia or China. Meanwhile, Malians toil away to survive in their new reality.
Prospects for improvement in Mali continue to look bleak, but that may change. Once the American election season is over, the United States may be more willing to address the issue. Given Russia and China’s resistance to intervention in Syria, a UN sanctified U.S. led intervention in Mali may be impossible, but allies can still work together to help Mali oust the militia on its own. This process has already begun, but it is gradual. The EU is working with the African Union to continue providing aid and expertise, but the decisive action to free Mali may be up to the Malians themselves.
Featured image from The Guardian
