Mali and World Media Opinions

It is a natural phenomenon that opinions will be split on Mali. Many still fail to grapple with the sudden interest of France in the Malian affair. France stayed aloof for a long period of time but suddenly declared interest last week in ousting the Islamist rebels. From Russia to China down to the Middle East not excluding Europe, the Malian question continues to dominate discussions.

Though from Africa, views exist of the neo-colonial designs in most of all these military attacks and supports. Views I share in most cases but on Mali, I think differently. Ecowas slept off when the organisation was utmostly needed. Despite the go-ahead given by the UN, Ecowas was unable to amass troops to counter the fast growing insurgency in Mali.

The organisation said it will be ready by autumn but by then, the Islamists would have overun Bamako with the kind of firepower employed and the level of combat sophistication. The coming of France is a great relief and for the first time, I find myself supporting foreign intervention in Africa. The design of France is yet to be known but no matter what it is, her coming is timely. Read More

Royal Fashion and Pregnancy

The fashionable Kate Middleton who recently has been promoting fashion in the UK and worldwide is pregnant.

Fashion news have woven around her lately and more to come during this pregnant season. Her maternity gowns and wears will be closely monitored.

Palace officials say Prince William and the former Kate Middleton's first baby is due in July and that her condition is improving.

The Duchess of Cambridge had been hospitalized earlier in her pregnancy for acute morning sickness.

Officials said Monday she is feeling better. She made a rare public appearance last week and appeared to be healthy. The infant would be third in line for the British throne.

UN Security Council, Ecowas and Mali

UN Security Council and Ecowas to meet on Mali

France has called on the Security Council to hold a meeting to discuss the situation in Mali, where Paris intervened on Friday to help fight the Islamist insurgency there. The meeting will take place Monday afternoon, a spokesman for the French UN Mission Brieuc Pont, said in a tweet posted Sunday.

This comes as the French operation in its former African colony enters its third day. On Sunday, French fighter jets bombed strongholds in northern Mali, targeting airports as well as training camps, warehouses and buildings used by the Islamists controlling the area.  The militants are said to have links to al-Qaeda.

Ecowas on Monday made it known that the regional group will meet and discuss Mali. This comes after France, the erstwhile colonial master has taken up the challenge and lead to combat the Ansar Dine Islamists. The United Nations last year September gave Ecowas the green light to tackle the insurgency in Mali but the group decided to act in autumn giving the rebels more time to act and cover more tracks.

France has been heavily bombarding the rebels with heavy firepower but has met stiff and unflagging resistance from the islamists too. The rebels are reported to be in possession of heavy ammunitions with sophisticated trainings and military skills.

Nigeria, Boko Haram and Mali

Nigerian authorities arrested Mohammed Zangina , one of the ideologists of the terrorist group Boko Haram, accused of killing hundreds of people, CNN reports. The military spokesman was captured in the city of Maiduguru in the northeast of the country.

The terrorist group has killed more than 2,800 people, according to Human Rights Watch. Boko Haram has repeatedly attacked Nigerian villages and Christian churches in a campaign to impose strict Islamic law on Muslims in Nigeria.

The issue is not the arrests. Numerous have been reported including that of high profile politicians but nothing has come out of it. Everything we have successfully heard and witnessed are people walking freely in the so-called prisons and even in the society. Boko Haram suspects use mobile phones, eat perfectly well and still live like kings in the prisons.

None of them can be taken to court. When Boko Haram sneezes, Nigeria catches cold. Officials in government circles and among prison workers revealed that the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom for Nigeria and the Jonathan administration.

With French involvement in Mali, more headache will be on for Nigeria because there could be a backlog of attacks. The insurgency can easily melt into Northern Nigeria and launch heinous attacks from there.

France in Somalia and Mali

A second French soldier has died from gunshot wounds after an attempt to rescue a French agent, Somalia's al Shabaab rebel group said Monday. The spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters that the group will display the bodies of the dead men.

French forces went into southern Somalia by helicopter on Saturday to try to free Denis Allex, held hostage since 2009. French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday the operation had failed despite the “sacrifice” of two soldiers. Musab claimed Allex was alive and his fate would be decided later.

David Cameron has reiterated that the United Kingdom will not drop boots on the ground in Mali. The UK has provided two C17 transport planes to aid the French effort. One is expected to leave France for Mali on Monday after having flown from the UK on Sunday. The aircraft is reported to have developed some mechanical faults.

The two missions have been surprises to France. Al Shabab proved to be very daring and dangerous. The fighting spirit, training, weapons and level of sophistication of the Ansar dine rebels in Mali is also alarming to France. France promised to leave Mali within weeks. The fear in West Africa should be the resultant effect it will have on insurgency in the region has Nigeria still battles Boko Haram.