NIGER: More than 100 tanks and trucks from France and Niger cross the Niger-Mali border

Record ID: 235937

  • Title: NIGER: More than 100 tanks and trucks from France and Niger cross the Niger-Mali border
  • Date: 29th January 2013
  • Summary: FAMILY ON CARS PULLED BY DONKEYS
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Niger
  • Country: Niger
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA6T7EIPVYE0AE1AFWHLYIUPI68
  • Story Text: Hundreds more troops joined Mali's fight against Islamist insurgents on Monday (January 28) as a convoy made up of Nigerien and French forces entered Malian territory.
    The more than 100 tanks and trucks carrying the forces crossed the border of Niger and Mali at the town of Ayorou.
    At the border town, many of the drivers who travel back and forth from Ayorou to Gao, a Malian town located 234 kilometers to the northwest that was liberated from Islamists over the weekend, refused to speak on camera for fear of reprisals.
    Mamoudou Souley, one driver who agreed to speak to journalists, said now that the Niger and French troops were on their way to reinforce the French and African forces already fighting, perhaps calm will prevail.

    "I hope that now, as the soldiers have crossed, people will sleep in peace," he sad.
    France, which intervened in Mali at the request of the government in Bamako, now has 2,900 troops in the West African country.
    The former colonial power is fighting alongside Malian troops, as well as regional AFISMA troops from various African countries, to push back Islamist rebels.
    Earlier this month, the rebels launched an offensive south toward Bamako.
    Since January 11, French airstrikes along with the ground forces have forced the Islamists to pull back north.
    Over the weekend, Islamists fled the towns of Gao and Timbuktu, which had been under control oaf the al Qaeda-allied fighters since last spring.
    END
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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