Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb proxy group Ansar Dine occupied the Malian town of Lere on Nov. 28, pushing out secular Tuareg fighters from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, known as the MNLA. The occupation of Lere comes days after fighters from the other AQIM proxy, the Movement for Jihad and Unity in West Africa, or MUJAO, defeated an MNLA force in the southeastern Gao region, taking control of the town of Menaka in the process. Ansar Dine had previously taken the town of Goundam, and now with Lere, the two towns serve as redundant checkpoints on the southwest approach along the Niger River heading toward Timbuktu. This is the principal route from Mauritania, which would likely serve as a staging location for the proposed international intervention force in an attack on Timbuktu. The south-central route into northern Mali travels through the Mopti region, which is the informal dividing line between southern and northern Mali. The first northern Malian town on the route, Douentza, became the AQIM forward location when MUJAO occupied it in September. Douentza is the main obstacle for intervention forces along the road that connects the Malian capital of Bamako to the Gao and Kidal regions. Gao city is MUJAO's hub in southeastern Mali. To defend against a southeastern approach, MUJAO has occupied Ansongo, a town approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Gao. Ansongo can be used as a checkpoint on the road from Niger's capital, Niamey. Niger is another possible staging location for the proposed intervention force. Though AQIM's reinforcement of its defenses does not actually extend its territorial control, it is affecting the political and military planning of regional and international actors. The proposed military intervention force would consist of around 7,000 troops, with approximately 3,300 troops from the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc, 3,000 from Malian units and 200-400 advisers from Western countries. This force would have to get through Lere, Goundam, Douentza, Ansongo and Menaka before it can push AQIM from Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal.
