An armored column of Chadian
troops in Niger moved towards the Malian border on Tuesday, part of an
African military force that is gradually deploying to support French
operations against Islamist rebels in northern Mali.
A Reuters reporter witnessed the Chadian forces, who
are experienced in desert operations, advancing north from the capital
Niamey on the road to Ouallam, some 100 km (60 miles) from the border,
where a company of Niger's troops are already stationed.
France, which launched air strikes in Mali 11 days ago
to halt a surprise Islamist offensive toward the capital Bamako, has
urged a swift deployment of the U.N.-mandated African force to back up
its 2,150-strong ground forces already there.
Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, who visited the
troops at Ouallam military base, condemned the al Qaeda-linked Islamist
alliance controlling Mali's vast desert north. An Imam, or Muslim
cleric, said prayers for the troops.
"We are going to war. A war imposed on us by
traffickers of all kinds, an unjust war, from which the peaceful
citizens of northern Mali are suffering terribly," Issoufou told the
forces.
"I am confident in your burning desire for victory."
France says its troops will remain in Mali until they
have completely dislodged the Islamist fighters from the north, amid
concerns that the militants could use the vast desert area to launch
terrorist attacks on the West and on neighboring African countries.
Fears of this wider security threat from al Qaeda and
its local allies in North and West Africa have increased sharply
following a raid last week on a gas plant in Algeria by Islamist
fighters. At least 37 foreign hostages were killed in the raid and its
aftermath, when Algerian forces stormed the installation.
Niger's armed forces, which completed their training a
month ago, are expected to advance toward the rebel-held north Malian
city of Gao in collaboration with the Chadian troops. It was not clear
when exactly they would cross the border.
Gao, the largest city of Mali's north, has been hit by French air strikes in recent days.
Niger has already sent a technical team to Mali, part
of a battalion of 544 troops accompanied by six French liaison officers
which it will deploy to Mali.
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