Spiegel Online.
Northern Mali is at
risk of becoming a breeding ground for terrorists. But with a poorly
trained Malian military and political chaos in the capital, few can
agree on what should be done to bring peace and the rule of law to the
region. France is in favor of quick action, but most of its allies are
skeptical.
As Modibo Diarra began to read his statement on state television, his
nervousness was clearly visible. "I, Cheick Modibo Diarra, am resigning
along with my entire government," he said in the early hours of Tuesday. "I apologize before the entire population of Mali."
It's anything but a voluntary departure for the now ex-prime minister.
The military junta had arrested him on Monday evening, accusing him of
"no longer working in the interest of the country."
Modibo Diarra's downfall could intensify the political crisis in
Bamako. Since the elected government was deposed by the military in
March, the coup leaders have been sharing power with him and the
president. Who exactly speaks for the country is a tug-of-war among the
various parties.
More than anything else, it's this political chaos
that makes an international military mission in Mali extremely
dangerous. There is no clear contact person for international allies.
Despite this, the military mission in Mali has already been agreed upon.
It is meant to be the next step in the war on terror. But the
operational details are still being negotiated -- who, when, what and
with how many soldiers.
