Soumeylou Boubèye Maiga, former defense minister and former head of intelligence services in Mali, was appointed foreign minister in Bamako on April 7, when he was recently criticized the weakness of his country against terrorism. Now, the confrontation becomes more direct. The death of Osama bin Laden subtracts the Sahel area of global confrontation "Al-Qaeda against the West." This concentration on a space whose vastness is a challenge for states raises fears of a self-radicalization.
The disappearance of bin Laden eliminates a middleman: the kidnappers will no longer refer to him by Western governments. Even if they acted as a diversion and are more interested in money than religion, they can derive from this new set of incentives to harden their rhetoric and threaten the West.
That is why we must redouble our vigilance. The release of three hostages in February, was a first step towards the other four. But the financial claims of the kidnappers are sobering. Payment of EUR 100 million they claim, they say, may facilitate their equipment and recruitment. The kidnappers have needed to recall its existence, while the Libyan crisis had overshadowed.
But the video also reflects their concern: the duration of their operation is problematic because they must ensure both their own safety and the safety of the hostages. They also find that by striking in Libya, Westerners have moved closer to them and show their determination. She has raised awareness in the region of the need to mobilize stronger and more sustainable, to ensure the security and state presence with populations affected by AQIM.
The events of Libya increase the potential for violence in the region: we recorded on our territory an influx of heavy weapons in the arsenals Libyan stolen. It is an additional threat, not only for foreigners but for the Malian government itself. They are increasingly hostile because they find that the activities of Islamist drove away tourists and hampering economic activities.
A little relief may occur, but public opinion is sensitive to the argument that Westerners practicing "double action". Some time ago, T-shirts and photos with the image of bin Laden were sold, and we can not exclude expressions of sympathy towards him. It will therefore be people to regret his death.
Yet AQIM clashes with the values of tolerance that we are trying to consolidate, and weighs on the cohesion of a society that has never experienced such fractures. This is to reactivate our relations with countries like Algeria and Mauritania, who felt inadequate commitment Malian against terrorism.
I just returned from Algiers, I am today [Monday, May 2] and will be in Mauritania, Thursday, Niger. These states are now in better spirits to us. Friday, April 29, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the countries concerned met in Bamako, Toumani Touré and the President spoke out clearly for a Malian sustainable presence on the ground.
It remains to unify the political command. A meeting of foreign ministers, to 20 May in Bamako, will precede a visit by President in Algiers. The travel ban hinders not only tourism, but cooperation and activities of French companies. I decided to break with the discourse of victimization that has prevailed so far, and I admit that the security of French nationals could be jeopardized.
Today we must face together. We are ready to take control measures and protection visible. I'll be in Paris next week to establish a lasting dialogue on these issues, so that the region is not abandoned to terrorists. Interview by Philippe Bernard Article published in the edition of 04.05.11 
The disappearance of bin Laden eliminates a middleman: the kidnappers will no longer refer to him by Western governments. Even if they acted as a diversion and are more interested in money than religion, they can derive from this new set of incentives to harden their rhetoric and threaten the West.
That is why we must redouble our vigilance. The release of three hostages in February, was a first step towards the other four. But the financial claims of the kidnappers are sobering. Payment of EUR 100 million they claim, they say, may facilitate their equipment and recruitment. The kidnappers have needed to recall its existence, while the Libyan crisis had overshadowed.
But the video also reflects their concern: the duration of their operation is problematic because they must ensure both their own safety and the safety of the hostages. They also find that by striking in Libya, Westerners have moved closer to them and show their determination. She has raised awareness in the region of the need to mobilize stronger and more sustainable, to ensure the security and state presence with populations affected by AQIM.
The events of Libya increase the potential for violence in the region: we recorded on our territory an influx of heavy weapons in the arsenals Libyan stolen. It is an additional threat, not only for foreigners but for the Malian government itself. They are increasingly hostile because they find that the activities of Islamist drove away tourists and hampering economic activities.
A little relief may occur, but public opinion is sensitive to the argument that Westerners practicing "double action". Some time ago, T-shirts and photos with the image of bin Laden were sold, and we can not exclude expressions of sympathy towards him. It will therefore be people to regret his death.
Yet AQIM clashes with the values of tolerance that we are trying to consolidate, and weighs on the cohesion of a society that has never experienced such fractures. This is to reactivate our relations with countries like Algeria and Mauritania, who felt inadequate commitment Malian against terrorism.
I just returned from Algiers, I am today [Monday, May 2] and will be in Mauritania, Thursday, Niger. These states are now in better spirits to us. Friday, April 29, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the countries concerned met in Bamako, Toumani Touré and the President spoke out clearly for a Malian sustainable presence on the ground.
It remains to unify the political command. A meeting of foreign ministers, to 20 May in Bamako, will precede a visit by President in Algiers. The travel ban hinders not only tourism, but cooperation and activities of French companies. I decided to break with the discourse of victimization that has prevailed so far, and I admit that the security of French nationals could be jeopardized.
Today we must face together. We are ready to take control measures and protection visible. I'll be in Paris next week to establish a lasting dialogue on these issues, so that the region is not abandoned to terrorists. Interview by Philippe Bernard Article published in the edition of 04.05.11
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