UK govt. blasted for aiding France in Mali intervention
File photo shows rebels in northern Mali.
British anti-war organization Stop the War Coalition has blasted the UK government for assisting France in its ongoing military intervention in Mali.
The campaign group attacked the British government for being “the first to support” French military in stepping up airstrikes against rebels in the West African country while providing “no democratic discussion or debate” over its decision.
In a statement titled “No foreign intervention in Mali”, the anti-war organization said the UK’s support for the French military intervention in Mali “only shows how keen the government is to participate in a new rush for influence on the African continent.”
“It is extraordinary that the [British] government has not learned from the terrible legacy of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya,” the statement added.
France initiated military action in Mali on January 12 to allegedly halt the advance of the rebels, who control the northern parts of the African nation.
British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed France’s decision to halt advances by the rebels and has promised to provide the country with logistic support.
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has sent two C-17 transport planes to the region, although one of the two aircraft has reportedly been grounded due to a technical fault.
Furthermore, referring to the French government’s claim that it’s waging “a war against terrorism” in Mali, John Rees, a national officer of Stop the War Coalition, said “We’ve heard this so many times. I’m surprised that they haven’t bored themselves by repeating this line.”
Chaos broke out in the West African country after Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure was toppled in a military coup on March 22, 2012. The coup leaders said they mounted the coup in response to the government’s inability to contain the Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country, which had been going on for two months.
SSM/HE
