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Mali Government Is Left Reeling After Islamists Take Village Long Held by Army France Sends Troops to Mali to Help Counter Islamist Advance
(about 3 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. BAMAKO, Mali — France sent armed forces into Mali on Friday, answering an urgent plea from the government of its former colony to help blunt a sudden and aggressive advance into the center of the country by Islamist extremist militants who have been in control of the north for much of the past year.
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. French officials confirmed that the French forces, which included paratroopers and helicopter gunships, had engaged in combat with the Islamists after landing at a major airfield in the central Mali town of Sévaré.
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 was unclear how many French troops had been sent, but a Western diplomat in neighboring Niger said the Islamist forces numbered between 800 and 900 fighters, with about 200 vehicles.
“It’s a very serious situation, very dangerous,” said the officer, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “French forces brought their support this afternoon to Malian army units to fight against terrorist elements,” President François Hollande of France said in a statement to reporters in Paris. “This operation will last as long as is necessary.”
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. Mr. Hollande was responding to an urgent request received the day before from Mali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore, who said Malian government forces were in dire need of help to stop the Islamists, who have turned the northern half of the country into a militant haven since seizing the territory, about twice of the size of Germany, last April.
The United Nations Security Council, which has repeatedly condemned the Islamist takeover of northern Mali and last month authorized an African-led force to enter the country to help drive the Islamists out, said Thursday that it was closely monitoring events there and may take additional steps. Mr. Hollande is also to meet with the Malian president next week.
The swift French response came after two days of clashes between the Malian 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 the Islamists and their allies eight months ago.
“It’s a very serious situation, very dangerous,” said a Malian officer here in Bamako, the capital, who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The Islamists had been threatening a major airfield 25 miles away Sévaré, 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.” A spokesman for the Islamists, Sanda Ould Boumana, said Thursday 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.” Gen. Carter F. Ham, the commander of the Pentagon’s Africa Command, who was traveling in neighboring Niger, said he understood that French paratroopers and helicopter gunships had landed in Sévaré and had engaged the Islamists in combat. He also said the United States, which shares France’s deep concern about the Islamist seizure of northern Mali, was considering what it could do to help, perhaps by repositioning satellites or sending in surveillance drones.
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.
“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.
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.
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 across a significant stretch of West Africa. Many of them belong to, or are affiliated with, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
“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 in 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.

Adam Nossiter reported from Bamako and Eric Schmitt from Niamey, Niger; Reporting was contributed by Cheick Diouara from Accra, Ghana; Rick Gladstone from New York; and Richard Berry from Paris.

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.”
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.”
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.”

Reporting was contributed by Eric Schmitt from Niamey, Niger; Cheick Diouara from Accra, Ghana; Rick Gladstone from New York; and Richard Berry from Paris.