Africa

African Forces Succeed Against Islamists In Somalia

French forces helped Mali push Islamist militants from that West African nation's north, and now they want to leave and hand over peacekeeping duties to an African force. Somalia, on the continent's east, has been guarded by an East African force since 2007, and is now experiencing a period of calm unprecedented in the past two decades.
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U.S. May Build Base For Drones In Northwest Africa

The United States is looking to base surveillance drones in the African nation of Niger. The base there will allow the U.S. unmanned vehicles to conduct operations in northern Africa, including in Mali, where France has intervened to fight Islamist militants. Tom Bowman talks to Melissa Block about the latest on the increasing U.S. military role in Africa.
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Timbuktu Freed From Islamist Fighters

by Ofeibea Quist-Arcton

In the West African nation of Mali, residents of Timbuktu were cheering in the streets Monday, after the city was liberated by French and Malian forces after months under the harsh rule of Islamist fighters. In a final act of cultural warfare before fleeing Timbuktu, the rebels are reported to have set fire to libraries housing priceless manuscripts.
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Ambassador Huddleston: U.S. Must Save Mali

The casualties are still being counted from last week's attack on an Algerian gas plant by Islamist militants. The four-day siege left dozens of people dead. The group warned of more such attacks against any country backing France's military intervention in neighboring Mali. For a perspective on Mali, Renee Montagne talks to Vickie Huddleston, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Mali from 2002 to 2005.
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