At sunset, the Niger River upstream from the city of Mopti in central Mali, with its gently sloping banks and stubbly greenery, looks just like the Russian countryside (plus longboats), especially given the drizzle. This is unexpected, but after nearly a week in-country wed gotten used to that feeling. After all, we never expected to be tracking down desert nomads by boat either, did we? </p>
// Feb. 05, 2013 - 05:11 GMT
As of early this week, the Malian army was not letting white people waving press cards into the liberated zone anymore.
// Feb. 02, 2013 - 06:55 GMT
The jihadists bypassed the highway and rolled into the town of Konna on January 10 from what its residents call a forest a savannah plain with just enough trees to obscure the view. The night they began working the heavy machine guns mounted on their Toyotas, it reminded the locals of fireworks, and the Malian army unit stationed in town caved and retreated. Those who did not flee fast enough and those who stood their ground are dead now. </p>
// Feb. 02, 2013 - 03:21 GMT
The problem with traveling across Mali is that you see a map full of big cities Segou alone has a population of 1 million so your mind defaults to standard assumptions about what they look like. </p>
// Jan. 30, 2013 - 04:11 GMT
Between 1 and 1:30 p.m. on Fridays, life in Bamako grinds to a halt literally: Our SUV is stranded by an endless stream of men, many in their best robes, all toting prayer rugs. They line up on every street and stand waiting for a signal foreigners cant catch. Then they drop to their knees, faces to the ground, and spend 15 minutes praying. </p>
// Jan. 29, 2013 - 10:06 GMT
We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. We're in Bamako.
// Jan. 26, 2013 - 03:49 GMT