Mali is yet another anarchical, deeply divided African state whose continued instability is increasingly posing a security threat to Europe and presenting an international dilemma on intervention.
On Thursday, a French-sponsored resolution to send international troops to intervene in Mali was unanimously approved by the oft-divided United Nations Security Council. Under the resolution, 3,300 combat troops will be deployed by a bloc of West African nations to regain the northern part of Mali that fell to radical Islamist groups in April. The European Union will be responsible for training the 5,000 remaining frail Malian forces.
