African Union Support Mali in the War Against Terrorists

West African leaders gather at the ECOWAS summit (AFP, Pius Utomi Ekpei)

According to CNN a summit of African leaders approved a proposal Sunday to send 3,300 troops to Mali to help evict Islamic radicals who have taken control of that country's northern territory. But a spokesman for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says more steps are needed before any troops are deployed.

"ECOWAS has adopted the concept of operation for a military force," spokesman Sunny Ugoh told CNN by phone. "This will now be presented to the African Union Peace and Security Council, and from there, to the United Nations Security Council. Within the context of implementing resolution 2071, the troop size will increase and will require the participation of other African countries."

United Nations Resolution 2071, adopted on October 12, demanded that armed groups cease human rights abuses and humanitarian violations in northern Mali.The final communique from the summit in Nigeria says the ECOWAS nations continue to prefer a negotiated settlement with the Islamic rebels, but "recourse to force may be indispensable in order to dismantle terrorist and transnational criminal networks that pose a threat to international peace and security."

Nigeria will provide a Majority of the Military forces, and would be supported by Niger and Burkina Faso and the proposed one year mandate would begin after a vote by the United Nations in coming weeks.