France, Mali and Algeria: Get stuck in but don't get stuck MALI is one of those barely governable countries which almost nobody except its hapless inhabitants much worries about, until disaster suddenly looms, threatening to spread poison beyond its borders. On January 16th it did just that, when jihadists acting in sympathy for their Malian brethren stormed a gasfield facility in remotest southern Algeria, which abuts Mali, and took hostage scores of Algerians and as many as 40 foreign workers from countries including America, Britain, France and Japan. This has concentrated minds on the Saharan region, where a jihadist menace has been growing. The attack in Algeria is actually a response to bold action by France. In Mali bad blood has been curdling since al-Qaeda-linked insurgents took over the northern half of the country nearly a year ago. Then, earlier this month, jihadists moved farther south, imperilling the capital, Bamako. That prompted France's Socialist president, François Hollande, who has been wary of throwing his weight around in his country's former colonial domains, to send troops to bolster Mali's feeble and fractious administration (see article and article). On January 14th French troops went into action alongside Malian soldiers to recapture the town of Diabaly, the closest the rebels had come to Bamako. Mr Hollande's action is decisive, vigorous and entirely justifiable. An initial deployment of 650 soldiers is to be followed by the dispatch of another 2,000 or so. They will need to drive the jihadists out of cities farther north, such as Timbuktu. The jihadists must not be allowed to move to the south, where 90% of Malians reside, or to set up a base for Islamist attacks across north Africa and into Europe. The United States and Britain are rightly giving the French logistical and intelligence support. Once the jihadist advance has been reversed, the baton should pass to pan-African diplomacy and military reinforcements from across the continent, especially from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a 15-country club led by Nigeria. Even before the latest hostage-taking outrage, the co-operation of Algeria, Mali's strongest neighbour to the north, which has had much bloody experience of beating back its own variant of al-Qaeda, had become vital. In the past Algeria has been loth to be on the same side as France and has opposed Western intervention in such places as Libya. But the taking of Western and other hostages on its soil underlines the importance to Mali's neighbour of working with its old colonial master to try to halt the jihadists" advance. Hand over to the Africans, then leave Getting into a war is always easier than getting out. France therefore needs to limit its ambitions. It should concentrate on driving the rebels out of the north's three main cities and keeping the urban areas safe. Once the jihadists have been chased into the surrounding wastelands, it may prove impossible, at least in the short run, to rout them there. Rebellious tribes such as the Tuareg, whose desire for autonomy the jihadists have exploited, may never be entirely pacified. Diplomacy must thus be applied in an effort to prise the Tuareg away from their alliance with the jihadists. ECOWAS and the African Union could provide mediation, though the UN Security Council may also have to weigh in. Provided the south is reasonably safe, Europeans and others should help with economic development and military training. But for the country to have a hope of working properly, Malians must also sort out their chaotic politics. A year ago, soldiers at the head of Mali's ragged army overthrew an elected government. On paper, civilians are back in charge, but no one is sure who really pulls the strings. Outsiders can clear the way, but in the end it is the Malians who must mend Mali.