Mali: A Possible Prelude to Western Intervention

Western forces have deployed to central Mali in what may be a prelude to military intervention. After significant territorial gains by jihadist fighters in early January, French and German special operations forces reportedly were sent to support defensive operations in the Mopti region — a strategic area and one of the presumed staging grounds for any future incursions into the jihadist-controlled north. By itself, the deployment does not signify the beginning of the long-awaited Western-backed intervention in northern Mali, but it might indicate that plans for such an intervention have now hastened.