In April 2012, a fateful coup d’etat marked the beginning of an international crisis in Mali, as soldiers displeased with the government's handling of the Taureg rebellion took control of the state. Since then, Islamist jihadists have capitalized on the weak government's confusion over who was actually in power, and within months successfully took control of Northern Mali.
In Washington, DC on February 14th, the Congressional House Committee on Foreign Affairs met to discuss the crisis situation, less than a month after French forces entered Mali in order to stabilize the country and former Secretary of State Clinton testified in a similar hearing that, “We are in for a struggle, but it is a necessary struggle.” The question still remains: What will be the United States' role in Mali?
After a thorny operation and fears of getting bogged down in an Afghanistan-style conflict, French officials have made it clear that they no longer plan to keep large numbers of troops in Mali for military purposes. This was a source of concern to the members of the Committee. According to Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, a decline in French forces would result in disaster, and in light of French military decline, the U.S. must work with other nations to solidify next steps in Mali. Although immediate focus remains on military operations, the Committee members believe that the time has come to acknowledge that the situation in Mali is a complex issue that needs more immediate and extensive attention. The Committee called on Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs Johnnie Carson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Amanda Dory for the Department of Defense to testify on the precarious situation and U.S. response to the international crisis in Mali.
According to Assistant Secretary Carson, the evolving crisis in Mali is one the most complex and urgent problems the United States currently faces due to a lack of economic development, the absence of meaningful opportunities for people to engage with the government, and the looming threat for Northern Mali to become a terrorist safe haven. He acknowledged that not only are the French helping immensely, but the U.S. has shown strong support of France’s efforts. Carson claimed that the U.S. has actively assisted in the Mali crisis through 22 refueling missions, equipment and supply lifts, and the transfer of 830 passengers into the operational theater. Although he believes the military efforts have been successful, he also made it clear that the situation in Mali cannot rely on military achievements alone. Without democratic elections and national reconciliation, the military achievements will be short lived.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Dory, representing the Department of Defense, agreed that the U.S. has supported the French operation in Mali from the very beginning. Despite Committee members’ allegations that the U.S. has not aided French military efforts with enough haste, she stood firm on her assertion that the Department of Defense immediately answered France’s call for assistance though support with intelligence, air fuel, and airlift operations. Dory stated that, since the coup d’etat, the Department of Defense’s engagement with Malian forces has been extremely restricted, and to date, there will still be no consideration of putting U.S. forces on the ground in Mali. Regardless, Dory insisted that the Defense Department has done everything they could to aid French allies as soon as possible, and continues to make strategic efforts towards achieving the ultimate humanitarian goals in Mali.
Moving forward, both Carson and Dory suggested that French military involvement will decline, and there will be a transition to a UN peace effort in order to consult with Malian government on a peaceful resolution. While there seems to be an overall agreement that an integrated UN peace mission would be suitable under the right conditions, there are still questions as to whether now is the appropriate time to pursue this idea. As the U.S. continues to support efforts to end the crisis in Mali, the hearing made it clear that dealing with this dynamic and evolving threat will be an international effort to keep the threat of extremism to a minimum, and return Northern Mali to stability. Only then may Mali find its way to a democratic and creditable nation.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Richardson (cc).
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The Mali Crisis: How Should the U.S. Respond?
February 20, 2013
In April 2012, a fateful coup d’etat marked the beginning of an international crisis in Mali, as soldiers displeased with the government's handling of the Taureg rebellion took control of the state. Since then, Islamist jihadists have capitalized on the weak government's confusion over who was actually in power, and within months successfully took control of Northern Mali.
In Washington, DC on February 14th, the Congressional House Committee on Foreign Affairs met to discuss the crisis situation, less than a month after French forces entered Mali in order to stabilize the country and former Secretary of State Clinton testified in a similar hearing that, “We are in for a struggle, but it is a necessary struggle.” The question still remains: What will be the United States' role in Mali?
After a thorny operation and fears of getting bogged down in an Afghanistan-style conflict, French officials have made it clear that they no longer plan to keep large numbers of troops in Mali for military purposes. This was a source of concern to the members of the Committee. According to Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, a decline in French forces would result in disaster, and in light of French military decline, the U.S. must work with other nations to solidify next steps in Mali. Although immediate focus remains on military operations, the Committee members believe that the time has come to acknowledge that the situation in Mali is a complex issue that needs more immediate and extensive attention. The Committee called on Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs Johnnie Carson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Amanda Dory for the Department of Defense to testify on the precarious situation and U.S. response to the international crisis in Mali.
According to Assistant Secretary Carson, the evolving crisis in Mali is one the most complex and urgent problems the United States currently faces due to a lack of economic development, the absence of meaningful opportunities for people to engage with the government, and the looming threat for Northern Mali to become a terrorist safe haven. He acknowledged that not only are the French helping immensely, but the U.S. has shown strong support of France’s efforts. Carson claimed that the U.S. has actively assisted in the Mali crisis through 22 refueling missions, equipment and supply lifts, and the transfer of 830 passengers into the operational theater. Although he believes the military efforts have been successful, he also made it clear that the situation in Mali cannot rely on military achievements alone. Without democratic elections and national reconciliation, the military achievements will be short lived.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Dory, representing the Department of Defense, agreed that the U.S. has supported the French operation in Mali from the very beginning. Despite Committee members’ allegations that the U.S. has not aided French military efforts with enough haste, she stood firm on her assertion that the Department of Defense immediately answered France’s call for assistance though support with intelligence, air fuel, and airlift operations. Dory stated that, since the coup d’etat, the Department of Defense’s engagement with Malian forces has been extremely restricted, and to date, there will still be no consideration of putting U.S. forces on the ground in Mali. Regardless, Dory insisted that the Defense Department has done everything they could to aid French allies as soon as possible, and continues to make strategic efforts towards achieving the ultimate humanitarian goals in Mali.
Moving forward, both Carson and Dory suggested that French military involvement will decline, and there will be a transition to a UN peace effort in order to consult with Malian government on a peaceful resolution. While there seems to be an overall agreement that an integrated UN peace mission would be suitable under the right conditions, there are still questions as to whether now is the appropriate time to pursue this idea. As the U.S. continues to support efforts to end the crisis in Mali, the hearing made it clear that dealing with this dynamic and evolving threat will be an international effort to keep the threat of extremism to a minimum, and return Northern Mali to stability. Only then may Mali find its way to a democratic and creditable nation.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Richardson (cc).
