Fighting continues in Mali with outside troops moving in Bamako (2)

As a step of its deep involvement in the Mali battle, France has increased its troops' strength in Mali to 1,400, said French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The European nation is expected to increase its troops to 2,500. Meanwhile, regional forces are also moving into Mali to join the UN-mandated intervention operations. A group of Nigerian forces is expected to arrive in Bamako on Thursday. It plans to contribute 900 troops as part of the regional forces to Mali.

As planned, Niger, Senegal and Burkina Faso will send 500 soldiers each, Benin 300 men, Guinea 150 and Ghana 120 soldier to the continental forces.

Chad, which is not an ECOWAS member, has promised 2,000 soldiers and Togo agreed to put 540 soldiers to the operations in Mali.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plans to mobilize a regional force of 3,300 troops with Nigeria's general Sehy Oumar Abdul Kadry as the commander and his deputy commander will be Yaya Garba from Niger. MISMA's chief of general staff will be colonel Jean Paul Ntab from Senegal.

Between Thursday and Tuesday next, Bakayoko said, three countries will be on the ground to fight the rebels. They include the Malian forces and their French allies as well as the Nigeriens who are just waiting for orders to begin the operation from their side of the border.

The special representative of the Commission President of the ECOWAS, Cheaka Aboudou Toure, said the mandate of MISMA (International Mission for Support to Mali) is to liberate Mali from the hands of the militants.

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