Atlantic Council

From AFP:  African Union chair Thomas Boni Yayi on Tuesday called for Nato troops to join African Union forces in a mission to stabilise Mali following a coup last year.

"Nato should play a part [in Mali], and the African force would lead the way as was done by Nato in Afghanistan," Yayi, who is also Benin's president, told a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. . . .

Harper said only that Ottawa would continue to provide humanitarian aid and work diplomatically with its Nato allies and "friends in Africa" to try to stabilise Mali. . . .

Al-Qaeda linked groups and other Islamists that have taken over regions in northern Mali have imposed a brutal form of shari' ah law.

In response, West African nations have put together a force of some 3 300 troops ready to go to Mali to help rebuild the country's army and support a military operation, which is not expected to start before September next year.  (photo: Foreign Ministry of Benin)