The international invasion of Mali, aimed at occupying the northern two thirds and imposing on them the rule of the military junta which retains control over the southern portion has been backed by many nations, but none so loudly as France.
That eagerness for a grand war in Azawad is couched as an attempt to shield Europe from the militant factions setting up shop in the region, but top French terror judge Marc Trevedic is warning that it could have the opposite effect.
“France is backing those that want to intervene militarily in Timbuktu. So we are the enemy and are identified as such,” Trevedic noted. He revealed multiple probes have been launched into France’s ethnic Malian community anticipating the backlash.
“They are young, often dual nationals or who have links with sub-Saharan Africa,” the judge said, saying at least four “Malian terrorist cells” have already been identified. The French do not keep specific track of their population by race, but it is estimated that over 1 million have direct ties to sub-Saharan Africa.