In what was closer to an African-French summit, Bamako hosted leaders for the inauguration of President-elect Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. This took place after the challenge related to the cleansing of Northern Mali from extremist movements, which turned it into a stronghold – that threatens the unity and entities of the neighboring states and the Western nationals – became about the reconstruction of a country devastated by sabotage, the desecration of religious symbols and cultural heritage and the escalation of ethnic and tribal conflicts. What encouraged the march towards the salvation of the Malian state, where the bickering and the military coup almost eliminated the elements of its existence and undermined the manifestations of its cultural and civilizational identity, is that the democratic solution - seen in the staging of presidential elections, the curtailment of the transitional phase and the launching of national reconciliation - was within reach. In addition, the authorities that saw the extent of the crisis did not hesitate to adopt a democratic approach to rearrange the country's internal situation. The preoccupation thus focused on two parallel axes. The first was the enhancement of unity in the face of division and Balkanization which proved to promote radical adventures, regardless of whether they are religious extremist or secluded tribal ones. The second was the placement of the democratic system on the right track through the peaceful transition of power. The most important thing in this formula, which led the country from the resuscitation room to the open space of democratic life, is the fact that it stems from the Malians' will, far away from any tutelage or coercion. Thanks to this specificity, which planted the seeds of democratic transition in the Malian soil, this experience reflects some sort of an encouraging transformation. This is especially true in light of the rallying around the democratic approach that was instated in light of extremist practices that were examined by the population, while under the control of armed groups, which heralded "the peace of killing, strife, fanaticism and inertia." Not all military interventions are calamitous. Hence, the Malian experience conveys another facet of the repercussions of interventions seen in some Arab states. Indeed, force was used in those states, without drawing up adequate goals that would preserve the values behind the intervention, whether at the level of protecting the civilians or achieving a transition, which would contribute to planting the seeds of democratic transformation. With all its dimensions, the experience confirms that war on terrorism and extremism should not spare any groups or organizations which settled down in African, Arab or Islamic states, and that moral scruples are required. Perhaps, the Malian crisis seized more attention due to the threat it posed on Western interests, according to France, its European partners, as well as the African and Maghreb populations. This could apply to other interests around the globe, considering that the tragic situation in Syria constitutes an archetype for the undermining of joint commitments. The difference might be that the Security Council resolutions, which allowed intervention by all means, to bring the situation in Mali back to the way it used to be before the military coup against democratic legitimacy, was not faced by the opposition of Moscow or China, which are known to enjoy interests in the African continent. In the meantime, the wager of the international community in Mali – and through it in the Sahel region south of the Sahara – depends on the translation of the reconstruction promises into measures rising up to the level of developmental aid. There is a similar experience revealing that Europe's renaissance could not have taken place, had it not been for the comprehensive reconstruction plan ratified following WWII, and affecting the infrastructure, investments, the extension of knowledge, the transfer of technology and the exploitation of the human mind that is always seeking further evolution and progress. On the other hand, the responsibilities of the Arab world are dictated by the fact that the African states have always supported the just causes of the Arab countries. Among the results of the convergence of wills was that Arab-African dialogue, which transformed into a major wager that cannot be dissociated from the overall strategies of the Arab confrontations. In addition, Mali and its partners in the Sahel are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation which was the forerunner in this field, and it would be useful to reopen the book of Arab-African relations during the current stage. This is due to the fact that many worlds have started drawing up long-term visions towards what is happening in the Dark Continent, at a time when it is the closest to the Arab neighboring states.
