Mali asks donors for EUR 2 billion to rebuild country

Paris, Reuters—Mali will ask international donors for nearly EUR 2 billion (USD 2.6 billion) to help rebuild the country and try to halt a resurgence of Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists who were driven out of the major northern towns by a French-led offensive. Paris launched a ground and air operation in its former colony in January to break the Islamist rebel hold on the northern two-thirds of the country, saying the militants posed a threat to the security of West Africa and Europe. The rapid...

Read more »

French Forces Leaving Malian Town of Timbuktu

Bamako, AP—Dozens of French forces have left the northern Malian town of Timbuktu several months after their military operation largely ousted radical Islamic fighters from the area, a French military official said Sunday. The reallocation of about 100 French soldiers to the northeastern town of Gao will pose a critical test as to whether Malian soldiers and their counterparts from neighboring nations will be able to maintain security in the area still threatened by jihadists. Soldiers f...

Read more »