The ongoing onslaught against a coalition of militant groups in northern Mali appears to be yielding fruit, following reports that it is entering its final phase as the Malian government regains control of most of the country.
Last week, French President Francois Hollande – whose country’s military is engaged in the fight against Islamists militants – said the current phase of fighting was against members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). He added that the MNLA, an ethnic Tuareg group that has been seeking self-rule from Mali and other Sahara and Sahel regions, has now turned against al-Qaeda. This is very good news, going by the fact that the Tuareg militants were until very recently strong allies to the Islamists.
We must note that when the current fighting eventually comes to an end, it would not mean the end of the militants, considering that the government of Mali and its neighbours have a long history of sporadic conflicts with Islamists. Indeed, we believe that bringing a lasting peace to the region will require several immediate and future actions. The current military presence in the country must remain for some time to help deter the militants from resurging, and Malian forces must be urgently trained on how to face any possible future attack.
But more importantly, strong efforts must be made to eradicate the abject poverty, illiteracy and lack of education in the country if Mali is to truly enjoy any future stability.
