France, which welcomed that development, is pushing for a political settlement between the provisional government in Bamako and the Tuaregs in the north, who want a degree of self-rule.
And after a swift campaign in which French-led forces forced the Islamists from the northern cities into the vast desert wilderness, Paris is ready to hand over military duties to an incoming multinational African force.
Lack of cash and equipment has hampered deployment of nearly 6,000 west African troops under the African-led force for Mali (AFISMA).
But Nigeria’s General Shehu Abdulkadir, commander of the force, said Wednesday they could be in place within two weeks.
Several countries had offered help airlifting the troops in and if they delivered on their pledges, he said: “I’m sure… that in the next two weeks, the troops will be fully in their various locations.”
Niger’s Defence Minister Karidjo Mahamadou meanwhile told AFP Wednesday the country was ready to host a base the US wants in order to operate drones to monitor movements by the Al-Qaeda-linked groups in the region.
“If Niger has an opportunity to receive support in the shape of aircraft or drones to monitor suspicious movements from Mali, we will not turn our nose up at it,” he told AFP.
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