Mauritania sends troops to liberate N Mali

Mauritania has sent 600 soldiers to join the armed forces sent by the African group "ECOWAS" to fight Salafi groups in northern Mali. Informed sources also revealed that the United Nations will pay the salaries of 3,000 Mauritanian soldiers, at $1,500 per soldier, who will participate in the war to "liberate" Azawad, an unrecognised state in the north of Mali. The forces are gearing, in particular, to fight against troops belonging to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Ansar Al Din Movement. The two armed groups control Azawad, after the the Malian army withdrew in the face of their aggression. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Mauritanian Army Staff carried out several changes to military posts and the transfer of a number of officers. The changes included the appointment of two new military attaches and switches to the leadership of various internal regions and national training centres. Moreover, some officers were also dismissed.