Hubb owners may also have noted that this thread is one of the most read on the entire forum.
So it should hopefully have some merit.

The French are now bombing the Ifoghas mountains heavily, using thirty aircraft targeting "logistics bases" (fuel and arms) and "training camps". Hostages are said to be alive (but in a terrible situation).
French planes pound Islamist camps in north Mali desert | Reuters

"Never has a foreign intervention in Africa been as popular as the French one in Mali" said Niger president Issofou.
Those Frenchies if they do it right this time could really boost their international image.
If they manage to broker a working and lasting agreement between touaregs and Bamako, with autonomy for the north. They are in a unique position to twist arms right now.
If they help rebuild the tombs of islamic saints the beards wilfully destroyed in Timbuktu - after the Arab League and in particular Egypt would not lend Mali a helping hand or give their support for intervention. What a setback for islamism that would be.

Issofou: "The object of this war should be not just to liberate Mali but to free the whole Sahel from this menace, which threatens not just us but also Europe, France and the world."
That would be the best news for WA travellers for years.

When did the French EVER successfully intervene in a conflict on foreign territory before? Kolwezi?

French warplanes attacked this night north of Mali, in order to do their three-week offensive finally subdued the last rebel stronghold in Kidal. Thirty aircraft were targeting Islamists training and communication centers around Tessalit - mountainous area near the Algerian border, reports the BBC.

So final push off terrorists from Mali is on the way. Their next destination should be in north Niger or south Libya. Allies should run Aqim in Maghreb till it's end. Does anyone know Belmoktar hostages destiny?

Upss: Priffe already wrote something about that.

"When did the French EVER successfully intervene in a conflict on foreign territory before?"

Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)::
"
La Force Licorne en 2011[modifier]

Au mois de février 2011, la Force Licorne a été renforcée et passe à 1 100 hommes[5].
En avril 2011 suite à la résolution 1975 du Conseil de Sécurité de l'ONU, la Force Licorne est redéployée dans le but de protéger les ressortissants français, d'apporter un soutien à l'ONUCI[6] et de détruire les armes lourdes des forces pro-Gbagbo utilisées contre des civils. Depuis le 2 avril, des éléments de commandement et trois compagnies, issues du 2e REP, du RMT et du 3e RPIMa, ont été projetées afin de renforcer les effectifs de la Force Licorne. Ils sont alors de 1 650 militaires français à Abidjan[7].
Le 11 avril 2011, les FRCI avec l'appui indirect de l'ONUCI et de la Force Licorne, ont arrêté Laurent Gbagbo[8].
Fin 2011, suite à la résolution de cette crise, les effectifs sont en baisse et passent à 450 personnels[9] puis à 300 début 2013."


See Opération Licorne - Wikipédia in French.

Ok Ivory Coast was not an outright disaster but tainted as 'neocolonialism' and did see some hiccups like French troops shooting unarmed protesters in the streets 2004.
Opération Licorne | Slate Afrique

WA = l'Afrique de l'Ouest

In Mali, the French are on their own on the ground as a Western power. They have taken great care to avoid collateral damage. Interestingly they are only using Special Forces for combat, together with Malian soldiers.
A model for the future?

"Ok Ivory Coast was not an outright disaster but tainted as 'neocolonialism'"
I don't agree with this opinion, the French intervention was supported by ONU ans his aim was to enforce the election of Ouatara recognized by international community .
RR

"That would be the best news for WA travellers for years."

Sorry, I'm French , what is WA?

West Africa

Thanks Roger, I've learned something today!

That is something I try to do EVERY day!! :-)

..... although I don't think I will EVER understand why Gambian military checkpoints are sometimes 100metres apart, asking the same questions!

If anyone would like a good introduction to the complexities of the Saharan situation regarding AQIM and kidnapping of tourists in recent years, or a condensed (all things being relative!) take on many of the topics we have been discussing over the years in this and Chris Scott's old kidnapping thread, they could do worse than to read

Mali | Andy Morgan Writes

All the usual suspects rounded up and poked at as it were.