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With Mali being all over the international news spectrum for less than desirable reasons, why is it not being mentioned AT ALL here in the Africa forum?
That aside, seems like, yet again, the sons of Islam are out to expand their influence elsewhere in the most brutal of ways. There is surely much unmentioned history behind this most recent incident which most of us outsiders are unaware of. I welcome the enlightenment of those familiar with the ensuing occurrences within Mali.
As an outsider, all I see is religious extremest yet again giving the rest of us reason to abhor and reject all things related to Islam and their cause.
Most people on this board are American, and most Americans don't know where Mali is.
From my (admittedly limited) knowledge of the situation there, it seems that the jihadists have taken advantage of the existing animosity between the Tuareg/Berber population in the north, and the black African population in the south. It's a similar dynamic to that which used to exist in Sudan, except somewhat reversed, since in Mali the center of gravity -- politically and economically -- is in the mostly black South, not the heavily Tuareg North. It's rather interesting that Mali used to be called the French Sudan.
As an outsider, all I see is religious extremest yet again giving the rest of us reason to abhor and reject all things related to Islam and their cause.
Please go to the Religion forum, if your only purpose in life is to bash a religion that you don't know anything about.
For the information of the rest of you, Mali has been 90% Muslim, for centuries, and there has been tolerance and amicable relations between the Muslims and minority religions up until the past year, when a tiny group of religious zealots disrupted a long history of peace-loving Muslims in a remote quarter of Mali.
My understanding of their situation is limited as well. A report I heard the other day said many of the weapons being used by the Tuaregs came from Lybia after Gaddafi's fall. It is a perfect example of how one major event in the region can have long ranging effects on the other countries in the region.
The situation in Mali is so very sad, but it is no reason for an all out attack on Islam.
I have no problem, however, with attacks on Islamists.
Most black Malians practice a moderate form of Islam, but the Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamists who have taken over 2/3 of the country -- destroying priceless Islamic historical monuments in Timbuktu, among other atrocities -- deserve everything the Malian army and the French can throw at them.
I have no problem, however, with attacks on Islamists.
Most black Malians practice a moderate form of Islam, but the Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamists who have taken over 2/3 of the country -- destroying priceless Islamic historical monuments in Timbuktu, among other atrocities -- deserve everything the Malian army and the French can throw at them.
If wanting to see those monsters driven out of Mali makes me a bigot, then I guess I'm a bigot.
This is also serious concern as the history of the nation is at risk. My issue is simply with what the OP stated. There have been and continue to be extremists in every religion that threaten the well-being of others. People ought not to condemn all who practice a particular religion.
Mali was a relatively safe and stable "democracy" in West Africa. This coupled with the fiasco in the Côte d'Ivoire has truly been a major setback for La Françafrique. Senegal seems to buck this very sad trend.
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