A military coup in the north of Mali by Islamists back in April 2012 has now prompted France to fly in troops and aircraft into the country, one of France’s former colonies in West Africa. The French were very much afraid that if the Islamists, who already controlled many towns and settlements in the North of this Saharan country marched into Bamako, Mali’s capital then the situation might turn very ugly. President Traore of Mali asked for French assistance and air strikes to push back the Islamic advance and for the moment at least, the rebel advance towards the capital has ceased.
