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    Mali’s Militiamen: A Country Split in Two Readies for War

    By Amy PereiraNov. 13, 20120
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    Michaël Zumstein / Agence VU

    A man does an arms drill in the bush in the Youth Camp of Soufouroulaye, near Mopti. The militia Ganda Izo (Sons of Land) boasts 1300 men. They are being trained to handle weapons and to fight in order to reconquer cities in North Mali.

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    In the districts abutting Mali’s vast north, war looms. In 2012, locals and others forced to flee the conquest of Mali’s north by rebel factions and Islamist groups linked with al-Qaeda are readying to be part of an offensive to take it back, supported in some form by the West as well as troops sent in by neighboring African states. But concerns abound over the readiness of Mali’s troops and irregular militiamen—seen here training in the district of Mopti in November, 2012 —and their ability to battle the experienced, well-armed fighters waiting for their attack.

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    JimJones
    JimJones 5pts

    Picture number 6, I really hope he has that weapon safed......

    MarkSchmidt
    MarkSchmidt 5pts

    Sounds like Texas...

    MusawiMelake
    MusawiMelake 5pts

    While the West understands that it can not sustain it's peoples' living standard as it used to be due to many of their former colonies emerging as economic, military and political Tigers, they are increasingly resorting to more camouflaged manners reenter their colonies. Pathetically, the African countries are still vulnerable and are taking the brunt. Sadly though there are many African nations that are intimidated to take part in the expedition. The cleverly drawn up border lines when they left after the war with Hitler, enable them to come back in disguise. West will steel the mineral, Americans have already secured the entire reserve of Afghanistan and Lybia, and other wealth from the places under the guise of fighting islamic extremists.

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