Abayomi Azikiwe: Malian War Spreading into Niger:

French Military moves Further into Northern Region. Reports emanating from the West African state of Mali, indicate that French ground forces, accompanied by the national army from the capital of Bamako, along with a small contingent of regional troops from Niger, Burkino Faso, Togo, Senegal, Benin, Chad and Nigeria, are moving towards the northern historic city of Timbuktu. Although there has been a media blockade by the French and Malian governments about the impact of the war, details of the conditions taking place, inside the country are emerging. In the northern city of Gao, French and Malian forces claim that they have taken the airport, and are moving to occupy the city. A military press release from Paris stated that they were fired on by Al Qaeda linked terrorist elements who were destroyed, per the Associated Press, January 28. Nonetheless, the ministry of defense in France has attempted to sanitize the actual situation in the contested areas. One report asserted that no civilians have been killed in the imperialist military operations, although other news agencieshave contradicted these statements. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a press release issued on January 22, stated that air bombing and fighting continue in Mali, as refugees are continuing to cross into neighboring countries. In Mauritania, 4,208 Malian refugees are continuing to cross into neighboring countries. In Mauritania, 4,208 Malian refugees have arrived since January 11. (UNHCR) This same media advisory continues, noting that after being registered at the Fassala transit center, they are being transported further inland to the Mbera refugee camp, which is already hosting 55,221 people from earlier displacements. Curing the same time period 1,300 refugees have arrived in Niger, and 1,829 entered Burkina Faso. Malians arriving in these neighboring states, say that they are fleeing air strikes, being carried out by French fighter jets. They are complaining about shortages of food, fuel and water. Many new arrivals are traveling in vehicles, but others are on foot and on donkeys. The refugees are anticipating that other members of their families will be crossing the borders very soon. Since the escalation of fighting in the north of Mali in January 2012, which was largely the result of the US NATO war against Libya, some 147,000 refugees have fled the country.