Not much news from Mali that I’ve noticed. There is progress, but at a deeper level than I can see in the few news sources I watch. I suppose that is only a commentary on me.
7-8 – Economist – Secure the Sahara, if you can
Three pieces of very good news, at least from my limited perspective. From the article:
In late June the Tuareg signed a peace deal.
On June 26th Captain Amadou Sanogo, who led last year’s coup, apologised publicly for his actions.
An interim president, Dioncounda Traore, is trying to close a rift in the armed forces between plotters and those who remained loyal to the elected if ineffectual former government.
The UN is assembling a peacekeeping force of 12,000.
A vote is scheduled for the end of July. Article suggests it will be difficult to have a good election procedurally. France will keep 3,000 troops in-country until the election and 1,000 after that.
Looks to me like some very good progress.