The West African nation of Mali has been in crisis since its Soviet-trained president was ousted in a coup in March 2012, and a coalition of Islamist groups seized the north of the country. The intervention of French forces in January 2013 allowed Mali’s government to recapture six towns and to stop the rebels’ advance on key regions in the south of the country.
In mid-January, the town of Konna in central Mali was on the front line of the conflict.
In the photo: A local man walks near his home soon after French and Malian troops pushed out Islamist rebels.
In the photo: A local man walks near his home soon after French and Malian troops pushed out Islamist rebels.
First Konna was occupied by Islamist rebels, then it was bombarded by the French air force.
In the photo: the charred remains of a jeep used by the Islamists.
In the photo: the charred remains of a jeep used by the Islamists.
It was the fall of Konna to the Islamists that left the road to Mali’s capital, Bamako, open to them, leading French President François Hollande to send troops to Mali earlier this month.
In the photo: a Konna resident with his motorcycle – still in decent shape by local standards.
In the photo: a Konna resident with his motorcycle – still in decent shape by local standards.
The French intervention has so far allowed Mali’s government to recapture six towns, including the fabled Timbuktu, and to stop the rebels’ advance on key regions in the south of the country.
In the photo: Malian soldiers in the liberated town of Konna.
In the photo: Malian soldiers in the liberated town of Konna.
Konna is now under the control of French and Malian troops; however, fears remain that the Islamists will not give up without resistance.
In the photo: a Konna resident fiddles with locks, as a camouflaged tank stands in the background.
In the photo: a Konna resident fiddles with locks, as a camouflaged tank stands in the background.
Malian soldiers in the liberated town of Konna.
The French contingent on the ground now totals 2,800 troops.
In the photo: the French army’s base-camp airport in Sevare, some 390 miles north of Mali's capital, Bamako.
In the photo: the French army’s base-camp airport in Sevare, some 390 miles north of Mali's capital, Bamako.
The town of Sevare has never been occupied by the Islamists but is close to many towns and villages which have.
In the photo: a small crowd at Sevare’s distribution center for humanitarian aid to refugees.
In the photo: a small crowd at Sevare’s distribution center for humanitarian aid to refugees.
The refugee camp in Sevare gave shelter to hundreds of Malians.
In the photo: A woman waits at Sevare’s distribution center for humanitarian aid to refugees.
In the photo: A woman waits at Sevare’s distribution center for humanitarian aid to refugees.
Mostly women and children are staying at the refugee camp in Sevare.
In the photo: woman with her baby at Sevare’s distribution center for humanitarian aid to refugees.
In the photo: woman with her baby at Sevare’s distribution center for humanitarian aid to refugees.
Sevare is located just 10 kilometers from the ancient town of Mopti (in the photo).
Mopti, which is built on three islands connected by dikes, is sometimes referred to in tourist guidebooks as “the Venice of Mali.”
In the photo: Boys bathing livestock in the Niger River.
In the photo: Boys bathing livestock in the Niger River.
The town is popular with tourists, mainly due to its mud-and-straw Grand Mosque (in the photo).
Mopti, which stands at the confluence of the Niger and Bani rivers, has a busy port (in the photo).
An Obama fan carrying salt in the port of Mopti.
