Mali's Independence Day: A Hollow Celebration Amid Crisis The Malian government's celebration of its independence from France on September 22 coincides with one of the country's most severe security crises in recent history.
Armed groups that have long plagued northern Mali have expanded their reach, and the government's control over key supply routes has been severely compromised.
A fuel blockade in Bamako, the capital city, has exposed the vulnerability of supply lines into the heart of the country.