The army is reportedly preparing to retake the north that was overrun by rebels in April.

In spite of the wrangling as to who should head the transitional government in Mali, the country’s military appears not to have lost sight of the need to reconquer the northern half of the country that was overrun by rebels last April by a combination of Tuareg and Islamist rebel groups.

According to a report by the Chinese news agency, Xinhua quoting Malian military sources, the visits last weekend by Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra to the Ségou military base located 135 km from the capital, Bamako and that of the Minister of Defence, Col. Yamoussa Camara to Sévaré, some 646 km from the capital, were signs of preparations for the counter-offensive. The source told Xinhua that as a preparatory measure, the town of Douentza located 826 km to the north of Bamako is expected to be retaken this week to pave the way for the bigger onslaught.

As an incentive to soldiers to be involved in combat, an operations allowance has been introduced. This, field commanders acknowledge, has significantly boosted their morale. Another military source disclosed that more troops had now been moved to Sévaré – the operational headquarters for the north since the fall of Gao – from bases in Ségou, Sikasso and Kayes.

In addition, plans for the counter-offensive are already going on Sévaré and are led by Generals Mahamadou Maïga who is also Governor of Kayes, and Minkoro Kané – all battle-tested officers that are said to enjoy the support of rank and file soldiers and the military high command. All these efforts are backed by a group of experienced military officers based in Bamako, including Gen. Gabriel Poudiougou, the Army Chief of Staff at the time of the coup led by Captain Ahmadou Haya Sanogo on March 22, 2012.

The planning is said to be going in great secrecy. Also expected to be involved in the efforts to liberate the northern Mali are Arab militias currently based in Mauritania. Two other fronts are preparing to retake Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal. The first will be led by Col. Ould Meydou from Mauritania while the second will be commanded by Col-Major Alhadji Ag Gamou. The army is said to have gathered a good stockpile of weapons from the Markala Central Repair Workshop that is now functioning while waiting for international support.