Mali at the crossroads once more

On the watch: Members of Fama, Gatia and the MSA in a mixed patrol surveying the surroundings of the northern Mali district of Meneka in Gao. — AFP

When Hollande goes, will his successor as French President remove the driving force behind the coalition preventing this West African nation from falling into anarchy?

IF my life has a somewhat surreal quality when I look back at it, the constant shifts of geographical parameters during my formative years must surely be a factor. Not many people get to live in four continents before they turn 18. Of course, it could equally be a penchant for making unorthodox decisions or an affinity for hallucinogenic experimentation that has magnified the aura of disbelief that accompanies my particular brand of nostalgia.