South Africa ready for Mali role - Zuma
- 11 years ago
The conflict in Mali requires a collective response -- that's what South African President Jacob Zuma told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He also says toppling of the Gaddafi regime has led to instability throughout North Africa.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JACOB ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, SAYING;
"Because of that, it's not just Mali. It is Mali, it is Chad, Niger, it is Mauritania, it is many countries. The security situation deteriorated to zero, almost. Mali then must be understood from that context, why it escalated, why it is difficult to deal with is the consequences of how Libya was handled."
He says South Africa will send troops to Mali if asked
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JACOB ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, SAYING;
"So we cannot determine what do we do in Mali as an individual country, that's going to be taken by a collective, and that whatever decision the collective takes, if it feels South Africa should play a particular role, certainly we'll be ready to do so."
France deployed thousands of ground troops to Mali as part of an effort to dislodge Islamists from Northern Mali, before they use the area to launch attacks on the West.
He also says toppling of the Gaddafi regime has led to instability throughout North Africa.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JACOB ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, SAYING;
"Because of that, it's not just Mali. It is Mali, it is Chad, Niger, it is Mauritania, it is many countries. The security situation deteriorated to zero, almost. Mali then must be understood from that context, why it escalated, why it is difficult to deal with is the consequences of how Libya was handled."
He says South Africa will send troops to Mali if asked
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JACOB ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA, SAYING;
"So we cannot determine what do we do in Mali as an individual country, that's going to be taken by a collective, and that whatever decision the collective takes, if it feels South Africa should play a particular role, certainly we'll be ready to do so."
France deployed thousands of ground troops to Mali as part of an effort to dislodge Islamists from Northern Mali, before they use the area to launch attacks on the West.