For a change, there’s good news from Africa. Just days ago, the government of Mali, a country in western Africa, requested France to help it deal with an insurgency in its northern territories. This uprising, led by Al Qaeda, threatened Mali, if not north-western Africa itself. France responded by aerial bombing.
This is a situation that has been encountered in other parts of the world—including certain parts of South Asia—where tribes gather under the banner of radical elements destabilize entire swaths of territory. A reasonable solution has been found because France realized the danger inherent in the situation, and the Malian government acted in a clear fashion. Not many governments think in that manner.
This may not be an easy model to replicate elsewhere: France has unique ties with Africa. The key ingredient in this case is the trust between the two governments. Perhaps there are lessons here for other countries.
