The first set of Nigerian army personnel has arrived in Bamako, Mali, as part of regional and international coalition to rescue Mali from the rebels in the North.
ECOWAS special representative to Mali, Cheikh Toure says, “the Nigerian troops will immediately join the French troops for the ground offensive against the rebels while troops from Niger and Togo will meet at the Malian border.”
Mr. Toure is optimistic that the Nigerian army, with the assistance of the regular Malian troops, would launch the final onslaught on the rebels.
Pre-deployment training
The United States of America has offered pre-deployment training to West African troops and assistance in transporting them to Mali, to enhance the success of the regional initiative.
According to the US, “the assistance is the last option opened to the country under its law because Mali is not a fully fledged democratic country….and it will help the troops to fight alongside their Malian counterpart.”
Going by the US law, Mali’s military cannot be funded as a result of its involvement in coup and counter-coup.
Meanwhile, the US has shared its intelligence with France from satellite and intercepted signals from the Malian rebels.
The Pentagon is also considering sending refuelling tankers so that French jets can fly longer and sustain the combat mission.
The international community, starting from the UN, has backed the military intervention in Mali to dislodge the rebels in the North of the country.
Regional meeting
The ECOWAS heads of state and government will meet on Saturday in Abidjan to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Mali.
A statement from the Ivorian Ministry of Communication said the heads of government' meeting would be preceded by a meeting of the ECOWAS mediatory group on Mali.
