Considering the Makeup of an Intervention Force in Mali

The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Oct. 12 that gives the Malian government, the African Union and West African officials 45 days to adopt a consensus strategy for reasserting central control in northern Mali. Officials from the three African parties will meet Oct. 19 in Bamako, the Malian capital, to discuss the matter. Once a consensus is reached on a strategy, the U.N. Security Council will likely endorse the agreement, opening the door for Western — specifically French — support for an African-led peacekeeping mission.

The status quo in Mali's north is unsustainable, both for the Malian government and the West, and it has become evident that an external actor will be required to tilt the balance back in favor of Mali's central government. More will be known about the makeup of the intervention after the Oct. 19 meeting, but some preliminary conclusions can be drawn.