Ils are invisible from the bridge over to Markala, the vast Niger River, 260 km northeast of Bamako. But the French soldiers have arrived at this strategic point, and assure their colonel, "the enemy will not pass" .
Succédant a small team of special forces, which in the early hours of French engagement in Mali were sent to support and mobilize Malian soldiers routed the soldiers of the 21st Regiment of Marines took position near it metal arched bridge, one of the most important pays.
"Our Mission", told AFP Lieutenant Colonel Marc (he is willing to reveal his name), who commanded the first detachment of conventional forces into action to land in Mali, "is to keep the bridge crucial in order to deny the enemy the access road to the South ".
"It evokes the figure of hundreds of terrorists, well armed, well trained, highly motivated," says the officer. "We must take them seriously. We are for now a hundred, but with our firepower we can easily reverse the balance of forces" .
Jeudi morning, several French armored vehicles took up positions near the great work the iron arches, camouflaged in the vegetation or protected by dikes or earth mounds. One of them pointed to the north, a Milan anti-tank missile. Mortars have been batterie.
Le Captain Pascal, who commanded there, claims to have "the resources and manpower to alongside our fellow Malian fulfill our mission. Nobody will" .
Pour Malian soldiers deployed closer to the road, especially in a 4x4 topped with a gun, protected by an embankment, the arrival of the French troops is soulagement.
Barbes rasées
C'est "the best news of the year," smiled Lieutenant Ousmane Dabitao, mesh new and goggles worn upside down on the neck. "With their help and that of other African armies arrive, we can flush out the terrorists and chase them out of our country" .
Son superior, Captain Cheickné Konaté, came for the first time to meet his French counterpart, provides that "it is heartwarming. France was the first on our side" .
Avec the Special Forces Group, "we remobilized our soldiers, created a compact defense. This is why we are more quiet here now," ajoute-t-il.
Avec their small teams highly mobile mounted six / eight on quick pick-ups, the jihadists move quickly, bypass devices, thwart the défenses.
"They are very strong to infiltrate" the captain ensures Konaté. "If they go down so far they will not take the road, they come by the tracks. Since the French attack we know they shaved their beards, extended their pants, they disguise themselves, trying to blend in population. We must be very vigilant and prevent them from crossing the river ".
Le control banks of the Niger, it is the mission of the Adjutant Arboncana Maiga and his men. On board their white pick-up slathered in mud, French and Malian flags hanging in front of the hood, they patrol his berges.
"We asked the boatmen to refuse to go through all those they do not know," he said in his great coat he donned khaki fight against the cool nuit.
"Here, everybody knows, a stranger never goes unnoticed. We gave our mobile phone numbers to everyone along the river. If someone who is not here to request cross, should call us. Though they threaten boatmen with their weapons, there will always be someone in the village who can hide and notify us, "espère-t-il.
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