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                 Malians in France Hold Hope, Keep Eye on Mail

   by Lisa Bryant

   About 100,000 Malians live in France and they are closely watching
   events in their homeland, where the French military launched its first
   ground assault against an Islamist insurgency Wednesday. One of the
   biggest Malian communities is located in the Paris suburb of Montreuil
   - earning it the nickname of "Little Bamako."
   Foyer Bara, a hostel for Malian immigrant workers, sits on a small
   street just a couple of blocks from the subway station. It's a dark,
   rundown building, but full of activity
   The central courtyard has been transformed into an informal street
   market. There are a couple of barbers. Other Malians sell candies and
   hot food from makeshift stands. Still others gather on this chilly day
   to discuss events in their homeland, where French troops are trying to
   halt an Islamist insurgency.
   Moussa Doucoure, who helps run the Bara hostel, credited France for
   getting his country out of what he called a mess. He scoffed at the
   extremists for calling themselves Islamic.They are only bandits and
   thugs, he said, who rape women and cut off people's limbs.
   Another Bara resident, Sigama Sekou said France is doing the right
   thing.
   Sekou praised the French military for doing a remarkable job. He's been
   in France for 10 years, and said he feels welcome and respected here.
   About 6,000 Malians live in Montreuil, a population so significant that
   it's earned this suburb the nickname "Little Bamako."
   Claude Reznik, who's in charge of international cooperation at city
   hall, said Montreuil's Malian community is important - but not just
   because of its size.
   Reznik said Malians have been in Montreuil for a long time - and this
   city has nurtured longstanding ties with an area in the Kayes region of
   western Mali, where many here come from. He said the municipality is
   just as worried about the crisis in Mali as its Malian residents.
   Montreuil's leftist government is taking action to help Malians at home
   - trying to restore dilapidated, overcrowded workers' hostels like
   Bara.
   Reznik called it unjust and inhuman to offer such abysmal conditions to
   people who live, work and pay taxes in France.
   Yeli Doucoure, who is in charge of another Malian hostel, said his
   family in Mali is doing well. He also comes from Mali's Kayes region,
   which has not been directly affected by the Islamist insurgency. But he
   said Malians feel like a single family. They share the same customs and
   Islamic religion - and anger at the extremists who seized control of
   the north.
   Doucoure said Malians will never forget the military help that France
   has offered. He hopes the French soldiers in Mali stay safe.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/malians-in-france-hold-hope-keep-eye-
   on-mali/1585253.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/malians-in-france-hold-hope-keep-eye-on-mali/1585253.html