Reportedly, French-led troops invaded and seized Timbuktu and the city of Gao and some surrounding territories in Mali, West Africa, last month, and are working to take over another major city, Kindal, soon.
Several hundred indigenous Malian freedom fighters have been killed by the allied forces as they resisted the air and ground attacks throughout the colonizing conquest. Over 4,000 French troops and about 3,800 indigenous African soldiers have been fighting alongside each other for over a month in the European country’s former colony.
“Who do they think they are? They have no business whatsoever in Africa!” concurs one irate observer, La Meh Nua. “They’re there to rape the Motherland, continue to pillage it of its natural resources.”
Two months ago, the U.N. Security Council authorized a one-year military occupation of the African country. Members of the Economic Community of West African States pledged more military assistance, and the Security Council urged other nations to also contribute military forces.
The region has been in turmoil since a conflict over the town of Konna occurred on Jan. 10. The town is now back under Malian control.
The Malian freedom fighters carved out a large portion of the north late last year, taking back their region after a military coup.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said troops will continue operations in northern Mali, where he says “some terrorist havens remain.”
France launched an offensive last month against Mali militants in its former territory. Many have retreated to the vast desert area after the allied invasion.
French President Francois Hollande visited Timbuktu just days after French forces had taken the fabled city from Islamist defenders.
“We are serving a cause defined within the United Nations’ framework … to bring the entire Malian territory under the legitimate authority of the Malian president and then the leaders who will be elected by the Malians,” Hollande proposed.
Islamist forces have destroyed historic tombs and shrines in the region. World leaders feared that the al-Qaeda-linked militants would turn the area into a terrorist haven.
Allegedly, France is preparing to remove its military presence next month.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said despite the withdrawal, troops will continue operations to “flush out militants in northern Mali.”
The World Afrikan Diaspora Union (WADU) will conduct a forum on Friday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Afrikan Poetry Theatre, 176-03 Jamaica Ave, Queens, which will address the colonizing efforts. Those in attendance will strategize on how to offer solidarity to restore the territorial sovereignty of Mali and dignity to the original Native African Malian people.
Slated to speak will be Leonard Jeffries, president of WADU-International; former Mali resident Sister Zenaybou Afrika Toure; and representatives from the Malian Cultural Center.