U.N. Security Council authorizes military mission in Mali From Richard Roth, CNN December 20, 2012 -- Updated 2230 GMT (0630 HKT) UN-sanctioned peacekeepers will be deployed for an initial period of one year The mission aims to help Mali retake its northern areas from Islamist rebels A group of neighboring nations already pledged thousands of troops to the mission United Nations (CNN) -- The United Nations Security Council on Thursday authorized a military peacekeeping mission in Mali to help the once-stable country retake its vast northern region from Islamist rebels. The council authorized the deployment of an African-led International Support Mission in Mali for an initial period of one year. The mission aims to help rebuild the capacity of Mali's security and defense forces and to help the Malian authorities recover the areas in the north. A regional group, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), already pledged thousands of troops to the mission, and the Security Council urged other member states also to contribute troops. The new U.N. mission is also tasked with helping Mali reduce the threat posed by terrorist groups, including al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb and MUJWA, the Movement of Unity and Jihad in Western Africa. The two groups now control two-thirds of northern Mali, an area the size of France.