No Result
View All Result
Sunday, July 20, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Libya joins ECOWAS summit for agreement on military intervention in Mali

byGeorge Grant
November 12, 2012
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Libya joins ECOWAS summit for agreement on military intervention in Mali

The Islamist group Ansar Dine have desecrated numerous historic shrines in Timbuktu since they seized control of northern Mali earlier this year.

By George Grant.

The Islamist group Ansar Dine have desecrated numerous historic shrines in Timbuktu since they seized control of northern Mali earlier this year.

London, 12 November:

Libya joined with West African leaders on Sunday to agree on the deployment of a 3,300-strong military . . .[restrict]force to northern Mali to dislodge Islamist fighters who wrested control of the region earlier this year.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the ECOWAS regional bloc in the Nigerian capital Abuja, as fears grow over the risks the Mali crisis poses to the region and beyond.

“We foresee 3,300 soldiers for a timeframe of one year,” Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, the current ECOWAS chairman, told journalists on Sunday after the summit.

RELATED POSTS

Top law firm joins new British Libyan Business Association

An academy with a difference in Tripoli

The troops would come primarily from ECOWAS, but may include countries from outside the bloc as well.

Outtara said he hoped approval from the UN Security Council could come in late November or early December, which would allow the force to be deployed shortly afterwards.

Mali has been in a state of crisis since 22 March, when President Amadou Touré was forced from office by mutinous soldiers displeased over his handling of a rebellion in the north of the country by a Tuareg rebel group, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).

Bolstered by significant numbers of battle-hardened fighters from Libya, the Tuareg rebels were also joined by the Al-Qaeda linked Islamist group Ansar Dine, who together succeeded in taking de facto control of northern Mali by early April.

Disagreements between the MNLA and the Islamists resulted in subsequent clashes which saw Ansar Dine and its supporters take control of all major northern towns by 17 July.

Regional leaders fear that unless the crisis is resolved quickly, the conflict could spill over into neighbouring countries and contribute to broader regional instability.

With its vast and porous borders, Libya’s remote desert south is also at risk from militant groups seeking areas of operations far from governmental control.

Following last year’s revolution in Libya, an influx of weaponry to Mali helped enable the Tuaregs to arm themselves for the rebellion.

Large numbers of weapons and fighters have also found their way from Libya to other countries in the region, and there are fears that both could be used for terrorist purposes by Islamist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

To date, six ECOWAS countries have offered to send troops to Mali, including Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo.

From outside of ECOWAS Chad is said to be considering participation, whilst contacts have also been made with Mauritania and South Africa. Libya is not believed to be considering involvement.

Efforts to reach a negotiated settlement are still ongoing, with ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo urging the bloc to pursue a dual approach of dialogue and military pressure.

Algeria in particular is known to be hesitant about a military solution, for fear of the potential spillover into its own territory.

Although not a member of ECOWAS, Algeria is seen as key to any intervention owing to its superior military and intelligence capabilities, and the long border it shares with Mali.

Algeria also has significant experience in combating extremism, having put down a bloody insurrection by the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) that took place in Algeria in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The GSPC’s successor, which now operates in the more remote parts of North Africa and the Sahel, is Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Serious questions remain, however, as to how successful any non-military negotiations will be with a militant Islamist group such as Ansar Dine.

In the final communiqué of yesterday’s summit, member states were urged “to concretise their commitments to provide military and logistical contributions to the ECOWAS military efforts.” [/restrict]

Tags: Ansar DineAQIMECOWASfeaturedLibya

Related Posts

ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

National Strategy for Prevention and Combating of Corruption (2025-2030) launched by ACA

July 17, 2025
Western Mountain Military Region conducts operation around Ghadames against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime
Libya

Western Mountain Military Region conducts operation around Ghadames against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime

July 17, 2025
Nearly 11,000 migrants repatriated from Libya and 3,165 Mediterranean fatalities: IOM
Libya

12,338 migrants intercepted at sea and returned to Libya up to 12 July: IOM

July 17, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

ACA suspends the Executive Director, the Chairman and 6 Board members of GNMTC

July 16, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

Three Fisheries officials temporarily suspend from work by Administrative Control Authority suspected of corruption

July 15, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

ACA saves LD 409 million on school textbook printing, suspends Tripoli Education Ministry’s Textbook Warehouse Manager

July 15, 2025
Next Post

Should Libya choose the Parliamentary or Presidental model of government? Lessons from other states

Sarah Abdullah Senussi concerned with father’s health and legal rights

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libyan Railways Implementation Authority invites International Federation of Railways to participate in November workshop

    China to resume implementation of its stalled railways projects in Libya

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former ATIB bank Chairman Naaman Elbouri recalls his unjust kidnapping and detention – calls on CBL Governor to implement law against those unjustly accused

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya and Nigeria discuss gas projects, extension of export pipelines to Europe and high-level delegation visit to Tripoli

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tripoli based Libyan government plans to complete 150,000 housing units by 2030

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fuel subsidies reached LD 60 billion, 30 percent of which is smuggled – therefore can invest just LD 5 bn in housing: CBL Governor Issa

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

National Strategy for Prevention and Combating of Corruption (2025-2030) launched by ACA

Western Mountain Military Region conducts operation around Ghadames against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.