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| Mali Government Is Left Reeling After Islamists Take Village Long Held by Army | Mali Government Is Left Reeling After Islamists Take Village Long Held by Army |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| DAKAR, Senegal — Islamists advanced into territory held by the Mali government on Thursday, overrunning a long-held defensive position in the center of the country and dealing a significant blow to the Malian Army in its effort to contain the militants who have seized the nation’s north, according to a Malian Army officer. | |
| Over the last two days, clashes have erupted between the army and militants around Konna, a sleepy mud-brick village that for months had marked the outer limit of the Malian Army’s control after it lost half of the country to Islamists and their allies last April. | Over the last two days, clashes have erupted between the army and militants around Konna, a sleepy mud-brick village that for months had marked the outer limit of the Malian Army’s control after it lost half of the country to Islamists and their allies last April. |
| On Thursday, though, the town appeared to have fallen to the Islamists, forcing Mali’s army to retreat and inflicting losses on it. The Malian officer, reached by phone in Bamako, the capital, was categorical, confirming the loss of Konna and calling the situation “critical” for the Malian Army. | On Thursday, though, the town appeared to have fallen to the Islamists, forcing Mali’s army to retreat and inflicting losses on it. The Malian officer, reached by phone in Bamako, the capital, was categorical, confirming the loss of Konna and calling the situation “critical” for the Malian Army. |
| “It’s a very serious situation, very dangerous,” said the officer, who was not authorized to speak publicly. | “It’s a very serious situation, very dangerous,” said the officer, who was not authorized to speak publicly. |
| The Islamists now threaten a major airfield some 25 miles away at the town of Sévaré, which is also the home of a significant army base. And 10 miles from Sévaré is the historic river city of Mopti, the last major town controlled by the Malian government, with a population of more than 100,000. | The Islamists now threaten a major airfield some 25 miles away at the town of Sévaré, which is also the home of a significant army base. And 10 miles from Sévaré is the historic river city of Mopti, the last major town controlled by the Malian government, with a population of more than 100,000. |
| “There were hard fights, but we lost,” the officer said. | “There were hard fights, but we lost,” the officer said. |
| “The Malian Army has retreated to Sévaré,” he said. “We need the help of everybody to save Sévaré.” | “The Malian Army has retreated to Sévaré,” he said. “We need the help of everybody to save Sévaré.” |
| A spokesman for the Islamists, Sanda Ould Boumana, said from rebel-held Timbuktu: “We have taken the town of Konna. We control Konna, and the Malian Army has fled. We have pushed them back.” | A spokesman for the Islamists, Sanda Ould Boumana, said from rebel-held Timbuktu: “We have taken the town of Konna. We control Konna, and the Malian Army has fled. We have pushed them back.” |
| The army’s official spokesman, Lt. Col. Diarran Kone, refused to confirm or deny the loss of the village. Gen. Carter F. Ham, the commander of the Pentagon’s Africa Command, who was traveling in neighboring Niger on Thursday, said that he had seen the reports from Mali but could not yet independently verify them. | The army’s official spokesman, Lt. Col. Diarran Kone, refused to confirm or deny the loss of the village. Gen. Carter F. Ham, the commander of the Pentagon’s Africa Command, who was traveling in neighboring Niger on Thursday, said that he had seen the reports from Mali but could not yet independently verify them. |
| “If true, this is a significant change in the situation,” General Ham said. | “If true, this is a significant change in the situation,” General Ham said. |
| This week’s clashes were the first time that the two sides had fought since Islamists and their Tuareg rebel allies conquered the north of Mali last spring, splitting the country in two and leaving the Malian Army in disarray. | This week’s clashes were the first time that the two sides had fought since Islamists and their Tuareg rebel allies conquered the north of Mali last spring, splitting the country in two and leaving the Malian Army in disarray. |
| For months, the United Nations and Mali’s neighbors have been debating and planning a military campaign to retake the north by force, if necessary, an international push that is supposed to be led by Malian forces. Analysts had previously said that the outcome of this week’s fighting at Konna would be a significant indicator of the army’s fitness to undertake the reconquest of the north. | For months, the United Nations and Mali’s neighbors have been debating and planning a military campaign to retake the north by force, if necessary, an international push that is supposed to be led by Malian forces. Analysts had previously said that the outcome of this week’s fighting at Konna would be a significant indicator of the army’s fitness to undertake the reconquest of the north. |
| Its loss now raises serious questions about the plan, tentatively approved by the United Nations Security Council last month. A retooled Malian Army was to be the plan’s centerpiece, aided by troops from around the region. | Its loss now raises serious questions about the plan, tentatively approved by the United Nations Security Council last month. A retooled Malian Army was to be the plan’s centerpiece, aided by troops from around the region. |
| The rebel advance prompted the Security Council to meet Thursday night in an emergency session on the deteriorating situation. Afterward it issued a statement expressing “grave concern” as well as determination to enforce previous resolutions on ending the crisis, including the dispatching of an African-led force to help the government reclaim lost territory. | The rebel advance prompted the Security Council to meet Thursday night in an emergency session on the deteriorating situation. Afterward it issued a statement expressing “grave concern” as well as determination to enforce previous resolutions on ending the crisis, including the dispatching of an African-led force to help the government reclaim lost territory. |
| France’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gérard Araud, who had called for the meeting, confirmed that Mali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore, had sent a letter to President François Hollande of France and the president of the Security Council seeking help in countering the Islamists’ latest advance. | France’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gérard Araud, who had called for the meeting, confirmed that Mali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore, had sent a letter to President François Hollande of France and the president of the Security Council seeking help in countering the Islamists’ latest advance. |
| Mr. Hollande said on Friday that he was ready to respond to Mali’s appeal for assistance, The Associated Press reported. He said France would seek a United Nations resolution for action but that it was “ready to stop the terrorists’ advance if it continues.” | |
| The loss of Konna could add urgency to Western preparations — France and to some extent the United States have pledged assistance — aimed at extinguishing the quasi state of militants. Many of them belong to, or are affiliated with, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which controls a vast portion of territory in West Africa. | |
| “They had eight months to prepare their defense,” said a Western military attaché in Bamako, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “What does this say? That they were not prepared? That they were not ready to cope with such an advance? Some people should be answering for this.” | “They had eight months to prepare their defense,” said a Western military attaché in Bamako, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “What does this say? That they were not prepared? That they were not ready to cope with such an advance? Some people should be answering for this.” |
| Malian politicians reacted with shock to news of Konna’s loss. | Malian politicians reacted with shock to news of Konna’s loss. |
| “This is a very disagreeable surprise. Terrible. A dagger blow,” said Fatoumata Dicko, a deputy in Mali’s Parliament, speaking from Bamako. “People are fleeing Sévaré. They think there is nothing to hold the Islamists back.” | “This is a very disagreeable surprise. Terrible. A dagger blow,” said Fatoumata Dicko, a deputy in Mali’s Parliament, speaking from Bamako. “People are fleeing Sévaré. They think there is nothing to hold the Islamists back.” |
| A pharmacist in Mopti, reached by phone, said residents were fleeing that city as well. “People are getting on the road. There is fear, and disappointment,” he said, asking that his name not be used. | A pharmacist in Mopti, reached by phone, said residents were fleeing that city as well. “People are getting on the road. There is fear, and disappointment,” he said, asking that his name not be used. |
| A small army detachment, only a dozen-odd men, has been based in Konna, a small village set amid fields; beyond is some 40 miles of no-man’s land, and then the town of Douentza, held by the Islamists. The army did not send out patrols. Officers, in interviews there last August, acknowledged that they were not seeking to engage with the enemy. | |
| On Wednesday, the Islamists moved in with small arms and artillery fire, according to the Malian Army officer. “The Islamists advanced, and our people counterattacked.” | On Wednesday, the Islamists moved in with small arms and artillery fire, according to the Malian Army officer. “The Islamists advanced, and our people counterattacked.” |
| Fierce fighting continued Thursday afternoon, according to a resident of Konna reached by phone, who said residents did not dare venture outside. | Fierce fighting continued Thursday afternoon, according to a resident of Konna reached by phone, who said residents did not dare venture outside. |
| “I’m hearing gunfire even now,” said the resident, Soumaila Dicko, who is not related to the Parliament deputy. “There’s been shooting since 8 this morning. Everybody is very frightened. What’s happening here is very serious.” | “I’m hearing gunfire even now,” said the resident, Soumaila Dicko, who is not related to the Parliament deputy. “There’s been shooting since 8 this morning. Everybody is very frightened. What’s happening here is very serious.” |
| Another resident said he had counted the bodies of at least 10 Malian soldiers on the paved road outside Konna. | Another resident said he had counted the bodies of at least 10 Malian soldiers on the paved road outside Konna. |
| The officer in Bamako said that the Islamists had encircled the town while shelling army positions. “While the fighting was going on, they infiltrated Konna by foot,” he said, “and it was this that allowed them to take it.” | The officer in Bamako said that the Islamists had encircled the town while shelling army positions. “While the fighting was going on, they infiltrated Konna by foot,” he said, “and it was this that allowed them to take it.” |
Reporting was contributed by Eric Schmitt from Niamey, Niger, Cheick Diouara from Accra, Ghana, Rick Gladstone from New York, and Richard Berry from Paris. | Reporting was contributed by Eric Schmitt from Niamey, Niger, Cheick Diouara from Accra, Ghana, Rick Gladstone from New York, and Richard Berry from Paris. |