High-Level Delegations Meet for
Talks on Mali Crisis
High-level delegations met in Bamako, Mali for talks about/on/of the crisis in the country’s
north. Representatives from/of/in
the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African
States met with Malian leaders to develop a plan.
Mali’s temporary president Dioncounda Traore urged
representatives to act immediately to deal with the situation. He promised that
the government will cooperate/must
cooperate/would cooperate and work together with forces assisting in
ousting the Islamic militants from the north.
Mali felt/has fallen/fell
into a crisis in March, 25, after the military ousted President Amadou Toumani
Toure. Shortly after, Islamic militants with ties to al-Qaida seized
control of the north. The militants want enforce/to
enforce/enforcing a severe version of Islamic law there. Recent
reports from the north documented/were
documented/have documented human rights abuses by/of/from the militants. They perform public executions, use
children as soldiers and force women into sex work. Women in many towns force/forced/ are forced to cover their
faces and ban/banned/are banned from
appearing in public with men. Smoking and music are also prohibited.
The U.N. has been calling on ECOWAS to provide a/the/-- more detailed plan for its propose/proposed/proposing military
action in northern Mali. Last week, the U.N. Security Council passed/has passed/would pass a
resolution clearing the way for/of/from deployment
of the ECOWAS force. It gave African leaders forty-five days to create a
military intervention plan.
The newly appointed chairperson for/of/from the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
said she will deal/dealt/would deal first
with Mali after being sworn in. In Bamako, she said it is/was/has been her first official trip as a messenger of
solidarity from/of/for the African
continent to the Malian people.
“I also want to highlight the AU's deep concern about/of/for the prevailing situation
and the AU's determination to do everything in our power to help the people of
Mali to find a speedy resolution of the overlapping crises in their
country."
--/The/ A U.N. Security Council holds/will hold/has held a second vote
to approve or disapprove a/the/-- military
intervention plan once it will be/is created/created.
However, many people in Mali oppose to/with/--
foreign intervention.
Hundreds of Malians marched in Bamako this week to
protest the idea of ECOWAS’ military deployment.
The protest was organized by supporters of former army
members who ousted the government. Many Malians say they concern/were concerned/are concerned
that the army is disorganized and poorly equipped to take back the north
alone.
Last week, thousands/thousand
of Malians marched in support of ECOWAS troops in Mali. A Malian living
in the northern city of Gao says military intervention is necessary.
He also says the people in the north suffer/suffered/have suffered enough,
and it is time for war in order to clear the path.
There is also concern that military intervention must/could push Islamic militants and
more refugees into/to/in neighboring
countries.
