Mali: Reached a partial agreement over deployment of 3300 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) troops
Mali and a West African regional bloc preparing to send troops to help Bamako reclaim the Islamist-seized north reached a partial agreement Sunday over conditions for an eventual deployment, officials said.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been jostling for weeks seeking an end to the Malian crisis, which has raised concerns about regional stability and seen Mali split in two after Islamist extremists seized control of the north after a March coup.
ECOWAS has 3,300 regional troops on standby but wants UN approval and has been awaiting the go-ahead from Mali, which is worried about foreign troops flooding into the capital Bamako and only wants the fighters to provide a supporting role.