The Islamic Supreme Council of Mali said the French military intervention in Mali is “Islamic” and permissible. The African Union chair said all of the African heads of state “are happy about the speed with which France acted and with France’s political courage.” Some 1,600 AFISMA troops from Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Niger have arrived in Mali; the force will grow to more than 5,000. The EU’s military training mission will be launched in mid-February.
