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Malians await the end of the war

Bamako residents are largely grateful for the French military intervention in the country’s north.

The Mali army has struggled to fight the armed groups that took much of the north of the country nearly a year ago. Mali has been reluctant to accept French and ECOWAS intervention, calling instead for support with training and arms. Many Western countries refused to sell the military weapons after a coup in March 2012.
By Yasmine Ryan
Published On 27 Jan 2013

Bamako, Mali – Life on the streets of the Malian capital continues with surprising normality, even as fighting wages in the north of the country.

Yet many residents here believe their city came far too close to being captured by the armed groups that have occupied much of the north for nearly a year, and say that French military intervention beginning on January 11 helped secure the city.

As French and Malian troops advance further to the north – they recaptured the airport in Gao early on Saturday, and are likely to
push for Timbuktu this weekend – Al Jazeera spoke to people in Bamako to see how they have been affected by the conflict.

A group of men selling sheep in central Bamako said the ongoing crisis has made their business much slower. Originally from the town of Nara, they fled the conflict for Bamako last year. "People don(***)t have money anymore," said Cheikh Dicko, right. "We are relieved by the French intervention, but there are still lots of problems." 
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Fatma Toure, right, fled Konna with her husband and children on January 10, when the armed group Ansar Dine briefly captured the town. The French sent in forces to help the Malian army recapture the north that same day. Fatma(***)s cousin, Aichata Toure, left, lost a brother, who was among the soldiers killed by Ansar Dine in Konna
Malians go to Friday prayer in Bamako. Islam came to the region in the ninth century, and the towns of Timbuktu and Gao soon became influential centres of religious scholarship. Many Malians, however, view the harsh brand of Islam imposed on the north by armed groups as antithetical to their own religious practices and traditions.
Mohammed Agata fled Timbuktu for Bamako three weeks ago, to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. His hometown is one of the main bastions of armed groups. French and Malian troops are expected to try to retake Timbuktu this weekend.
Across Bamako, French and Malian flags can be seen waving side by side. "The French people came to save my country and I am happy about that," Kanati Aboubacar said as he stopped to buy a French flag by the side of the road. "The terrorists would have come to Bamako. They are bandits and drug dealers," he said.