Meanwhile in the Sahara

Getting an agreement between the Mali southern-dominated government and the Tuaregs who live in the north and pine for more autonomy (or independence) is the key to hunting down jihadis and preventing northern Mali from being a sanctuary for al Qaeda. So of course the Mali government is shooting at Tuaregs.

A tiny French or ECOWAS military presence won't be enough to keep Mali hostile to jihadis if this keeps up:

Malian government forces have clashed with separatist Tuareg rebels in the first fighting since the two sides signed a peace accord in June.

The fighting took place near the western town of Lere, close to the Mauritanian border, leaving three soldiers injured.

Both sides have accused the other of provoking the attack.

Only jihadis can be happy about this. And Assad if France gets their limited military power dragged back to Mali rather than focused on Syria.

Well, and short-sighted Malian politicians who'd rather ride hatred of the minority Tuaregs to power in the south.

And Tuaregs who will accept nothing less than independence because they like holding southerners as slaves; or Tuaregs who like the jihadis.

I'm getting a headache.