MALI/NIGER: Residents of Mali's northern town of Gao celebrate their liberation from Islamist rebels as reinforcement troops from Chad and Niger head to the border

Record ID: 235933

  • Title: MALI/NIGER: Residents of Mali's northern town of Gao celebrate their liberation from Islamist rebels as reinforcement troops from Chad and Niger head to the border
  • Date: 27th January 2013
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF DEAD BODIES LAYING ON THE GROUND
  • Embargoed: 11th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Niger, Mali
  • City:
  • Country: Niger Mali
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA69MYBN5FN9W26QI421AV98BJN
  • Story Text: Residents of Mali's northern town of Gao, captured from sharia-observing Islamist rebels by French and Malian troops, danced in the streets to drums and music on Sunday (January 27) as the French-led offensive also drove the rebels from Timbuktu.
    The weekend gains made at Gao and Timbuktu by the French and Malian troops capped a two-week whirlwind intervention by France in its former Sahel colony, which has driven al Qaeda-allied militant fighters northwards into the desert and mountains.
    In Gao, the largest town in the north where the Islamist insurgents had banned music and smoking, cut off the hands of thieves and ordered women to wear veils, thousands cheered the liberating troops with shouts of "Mali, Mali, France, France".
    Crowds cheered on Malian army Colonel Didier Dacko who declared the town "liberated".
    French special forces backed by Rafale fighter jets and Tiger helicopters had helped capture the town early on Saturday (January 26).
    Among the celebrating Gao crowds, many smoked cigarettes, women went unveiled and some men wore shorts to flout the severe sharia Islamic law the rebels had imposed for months. Youths on motorcycles flew the flags of Mali, France and Niger, whose troops also helped secure the ancient town on the Niger River.
    French and Malian troops also arrived at the weekend at the fabled Saharan trading town of Timbuktu, more than 300 km (190 miles) to the west of Gao, and were working to restore government control over the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    On Sunday, a convoy of 75 military vehicles from the Niger and Chadian armies made its way to Ouallam, Niger, as the forces rolled closer to the Malian border.
    The vehicles were headed for their last checkpoint before their scheduled Monday departure to Mali, where they will join French and Malian troops.
    The Chadian and Niger troops are part of a regional intervention force known as AFISMA, made up of soldiers from various African countries. Regional army chiefs from countries contributing the soldiers have said a total of 7,700 African troops will be dispatched.
    On January 11, France responded to a call for military help from Mali as rebels advanced towards the capital Bamako. French and Malian troops quickly reversed gains previously made by the Islamist militants.
    France said it plans to eventually hand over the military operation to the regional African force.
    According to African Union officials, AFISMA is severely hampered by logistical shortages and needs airlift support, ammunition, telecoms equipment, field hospitals, food and water.
    END
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