NIGHTWATCH: The Mali Expedition Begins – Illustrated – Is Niger Oil the Real Reason? 1:50,000 Charts?

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map mali cities taken — Cities Taken By Islamists
Click on Image to Enlarge

Algeria: The Algerian government has given tacit approval for an African-led military intervention in Mali so long as there are no troops stationed on Algerian soil.

Comment: This means that Algeria will try to help by sealing its border with Mali once the intervention begins [never mind the Tauregs behind their lines].

Mali: Update. News services reported today that the prospect of a war in northern Mali against fundamentalist Islamists and al-Qaida affiliates advanced significantly after European governments promised to back an international force to retake the region from Islamist groups, provided it is led by soldiers from African countries.

While preparations continue to retake the north, foreign jihadists reportedly are arriving in northern Mali to reinforce the Islamic militants.

Comment: This week's major development is that the Europeans promised to finance the operations. The problems of operating in northern Mali are enormous, requiring extensive resources just to sustain supplies of ammunition, fuel, food and water, not to omit coordination between forces from different states. The supply problems alone would tax a modern military force from a single nation.

A multi-national operation compounds the problems exponentially, especially if English-speaking and French-speaking forces try to cooperate. France and its NATO allies must provide the communications, maintenance, intelligence and supply backbone or this intervention will stand no chance of success. It looks like another Libya operation. No matter how the operations are presented to the public, the US will be doing much of the heavy lifting because no other nation in the world can. That is why the US has an Africa Command.

Below the line: various map images and airports with runway lengths.

map mali islamic control — Islamic Control

map taureg unrest — Taureg Cross-Border Unrest

Mali Topographic — Available Maps 1:250, 1:500

Airports in Mali

Click in the map or on the links listed to view airport web sites.
Click here for the map of Africa.
Click here if you are missing navigation panel to the left!

Click here for explanations on technical data
Town	Airport name	ICAO	IATA	Usage	Customs	Runway	IFR	Rwy length
Ansongo	Ansongo	GAAO		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3600 ft
Bafoulabe	Bafoulabe	GABF		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Bamako	Senou	GABS	BKO	Civ.	Yes	Paved	Yes	8800 ft
Bandiagara	Bandiagara	GABD		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Bougouni	Bougouni	GABG		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Bourem	Bourem	GABR		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	5000 ft
Douentza	Douentza	GADZ		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2600 ft
Gao	Korogoussou	GAGO	GAQ	Civ.	Yes	Paved	Yes	8200 ft
Goundam	Goundam	GAGM	GUD	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	4900 ft
Kayes	Kayes	GAKY	KYS	Civ.	Yes	Paved	Yes	3800 ft
Kenieba	Kenieba	GAKA	KNZ	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Kidal	Kidal	GAKL		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	4500 ft
Kita	Kita	GAKT		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Kolokani	Kolokani	GAKN		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Koutiala	Koutiala	GAKO	KTX	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3900 ft
Manantali	Bengassi			Civ.	No	Paved	No	4900 ft
Markala	Markala	GAMA		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Menaka	Menaka	GAMK		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3600 ft
Mopti	Barbe	GAMB	MZI	Civ.	Yes	Paved	No	8200 ft
Nara	Keibane	GANK	NRM	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	5300 ft
Niafunke	Niafunke	GANF		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3900 ft
Nioro	Nioro	GANR	NIX	Civ.	Yes	Paved	No	4900 ft
Sikasso	Sikasso	GASK	KSS	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	6200 ft
Tessalit	Tessalit	GATS		Civ.	No	Paved	No	8200 ft
Tombouctou	Tombouctou	GATB	TOM	Civ.	Yes	Paved	No	4900 ft
Yelimane	Yelimane	GAYE	EYL	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	5200 ft