French, British neocolonialism in Mali

This video from Britain is called Mali: the west’s addiction to war is spreading terrorism, not reducing it.

By Paddy McGuffin in Britain:

Mali: the scramble for Africa

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Western powers are once again using anti-Islamist rhetoric to justify colonial interventions, anti-war campaigners Stop the War Coalition claimed today.

The comments came as Britain pledged to continue its “limited” support for French military action against Islamic militants in Mali, which has already seen numerous civilian casualties due to the indiscriminate nature of the bombing.

While France has taken the lead in the military intervention in Mali, Britain has deployed two C-17 transport planes in support of the operation, although one of the two aircraft has reportedly been grounded due to a technical fault.

But campaigners have expressed concern that Britain’s role could escalate as in previous conflicts such as Afghanistan, Iraq and most recently Libya.

A spokeswoman for the Stop the War Coalition said that France’s intervention in Mali was “part of a growing scramble for Africa.”

She said: “The civil war in Mali is a direct consequence of the disastrous intervention in Libya and shows that the war on terror is a source of instability in Africa as in Central Asia and the Middle East.

“France occupied Mali as a colony until 1960.

“It was at the centre of its historic colonial empire and is now at the heart of its effort to control a mineral-rich area including Senegal, Burkino Faso, the Ivory Coast – all former colonies in which the French once again have troops.”

Addressing the Commons on Monday night, Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds set out Britain’s approach and its support for the French military deployment to assist the government of Mali.

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However, Stop the War Coalition slammed the decision.

The spokeswoman said: “That Britain was the first to support the French adventure, with no democratic discussion or debate, only shows how keen the government is to participate in a new rush for influence on the African continent.

“It is extraordinary that the government has not learned from the terrible legacy of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

“The experience of the last decade and more has been that foreign wars bring nothing but suffering, destruction and instability.”

Meanwhile Amnesty International called on all parties to the armed conflict to ensure civilians are protected citing human rights abuses on both sides.

Amnesty International Africa deputy director Paule Rigaud said: “There are real concerns that the fighting might lead to indiscriminate or other unlawful attacks in areas where members of armed Islamist groups and civilians are intermingled.

“Forces involved in armed attacks should avoid indiscriminate shelling at all costs and do their utmost to prevent civilian casualties.”

The situation in Mali is directly linked to the Nato mobilisation in 2011 to overthrow the Gadaffi regime in Libya: here.

Mali, Algeria, Libya and the new front line in ‘energy diplomacy’: here.

The dark and dramatic history of France’s relationships with its former African colonies: here.

Related articles

• Top brass warn No 10: avoid Mali escalation (independent.co.uk)
• UK troops ‘must not get bogged down’ on Mali training mission (standard.co.uk)
• French public backs Mali intervention, but for how long? (csmonitor.com)
• Glenn Greenwald: The Bombing Of Mali Highlights All the Lessons Of Western Intervention (consciouslifenews.com)
• Nabila Ramdani: For France, Mali is a quagmire in the making (standard.co.uk)
• Colonial powers try to reconquer Africa as French imperialists bomb Mali (workers.org)
• UK tries to join in; plane breaks down on runway… (telegraph.co.uk)