Donors Pledge U.S.$455 Million for Mali Intervention

Taks · 2013-01-30T20:36:16+00:00

This could be a major turning point in this war. "For the first time, the AU said it would contribu te directly to apeacekeeping mission, pledging 50 million dollars for the African force" .... Donors PledgeU.S.$455 Million for Mali Intervention 29 January 2013 Donorspledged about 455 million dollars on Tuesday for an African-led militaryintervention in Mali and humanitarian aid for the country at the AU Summitwhich ended in Addis Ababa on Monday. TheAfrican force is meant to aid Franco-Malian troops as they fight Islamistrebels in order to reassert government control over the entire country. France'sdefence ministry said some 2,900 African troops are being deployed, with manyalready in country. Chad,with experience fighting rebels in rough desert terrain, has sent 1,400soldiers, making it the largest contributor. TheU.S. pledged 96 million dollars for the Malian army and the AU force, known asAFISMA. Japansaid it would give 120 million for humanitarian causes. AUofficials say some 460 million dollars is needed each year to help sustain theMali mission. However,at the opening of the conference Ivorian President Alassane Ouatarra tolddonors at least 950 million dollars was needed. Ouatarra,who is also head of West African bloc ECOWAS, said at least 10,000 soldierswere needed to free Mali of Islamist extremists, up from the 3,300 originallyplanned. Malianinterim president Dioncounda Traore called for massive support from theinternational community. "Thedecisive intervention by the French army has stopped the progression of ourcommon enemy," Traore said, referring to the rebels, whom he accused ofnarco-trafficking. Helater thanked the donor nations for their offers. InEurope, Germany and Sweden led by pledging 20 million dollars each for AFISMA,while Stockholm also promised another nine million for aid. Aheadof the summit, the EU had promised some 50 million euros (67.2 million dollars)for the force, but emphasised that the money will not be used for weapons. Africannations opened their purses too, with South Africa promising 10 million dollarsfor the troops and an equal amount for humanitarianism, while Nigeria pledgedfive million dollars. Chinamatched contributions from small African nations, by offering one milliondollars in support to the AU. FrenchPresident Francois Hollande on Monday said French and African forces weresucceeding against Islamist rebels, but that it was up to African forces tofinish the job. Timbuktuand Gao are said to be firmly under French and Malian control, leaving the cityof Kidal, near the border with Algeria, as the last key urban stronghold underthe Islamists rule. Butthe rebels are still said to be present in the vast desert of northern Mali. Mediareports showed residents of Timbuktu celebrating the French troops' entry tothe historic city. Themayor of the World Heritage site said the retreating Islamists set fire to alibrary housing ancient manuscripts. AFISMAwas originally intended to be deployed in September, but a rebel advancetowards the south in January prompted the French to immediately intervene atthe Malian government's request. TheEuropean nation has some 2,500 soldiers on the ground. TheAfrican force is expected to comprise several thousand soldiers, but many willrequire specialised training, with European instructors set to deploy nextmonth for the training. Somedeployed African troops are still waiting in Niger to cross into Mali. Forthe first time, the AU said it would contribute directly to a peacekeepingmission, pledging 50 million dollars for the African force

Thread starter Taks
Start date Jan 30, 2013

Taks

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Donors Pledge U.S.$455 Million for Mali Intervention

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