US-led will face Afghanistan-style long-drawn-out war in Mali

The West is preparing to engage al-Qaeda and Mali rebels in a protracted war campaign in the African country, a prominent political activist tells Press TV.

In December 2012, the United Nations Security Council approved the deployment of foreign military forces in Mali to help the government battle the militants controlling the northern part of the West African country.

Press TV has conducted an interview with Ayo Johnson, director of Viewpoint Africa, from London, to further discuss the issue. The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Tell us about the significance, first of all, of the French going to Mali and also the British actually sending in support.

Johnson: It’s more fear. I’m concerned that al-Qaeda forces have joined with Tuareg rebels to push back Malian forces who have melted away, unable to stop the advance. It would appear that large chunks of Mali have now been under the control of Tuareg rebels and al-Qaeda forces.

I think the French are very concerned that clearly if Mali were to topple, more than likely the neighboring countries will be affected: Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania to mention but a few.

It would spread way beyond Africa and may lead into Europe itself. That’s the initial concern.

Over the last few months, clearly the Americans and the French have been at loggerheads. The French have wanted an immediate attack on the rebels. The Americans have always asked that clearly they don’t believe that the ECOWAS troops were strong enough to beat back a battle-harded al-Qaeda and Tuareg rebels.

Of course, now the French have pushed ahead with this advance which has been happening simply because the president of Mali has asked for their help and assistance.

Press TV: Mr. Johnson, there are experts that say there are other reasons that the French are going there and is looking at their interests and is also making sure that they have a presence in Mali and other African countries, and also have looted the natural resources of the continent; your take, sir.

Johnson: Yes, Africa has numerous minerals which are very pleasing to the West, that’s not a doubt.

But in this particular instance, one would say that the demarcation of the fighting itself has been setup by al-Qaeda. I mean, al-Qaeda has chosen Mali as the nexus nation to take a fight against the West.

Clearly there’s no doubt about that, that if there’s minerals in Mali that would be of some interest.

I think now clearly the West is very concerned and very spooked that al-Qaeda clearly has identified Mali as the next fighting grounds.

They’ve already seen what has happened in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they’ve seen that they’ve not been able to beat them back in that particular country, so they’re very concerned that this would be a long, protracted war.

They want to get the upper hand now with their aircrafts, and bomb and beat back the Tuareg rebels and al-Qaeda forces. It’s going to be very, very difficult because this is clearly going to be a very long campaign.

Locally, the displacement of people, women and children, are going to be mostly affected.