La guerre de la France au Mali

Why this book?

This book provides a highly detailed account of the events leading up to Operation Serval in Mali, right through to the operation itself. For those seeking to understand how a military operation is organized—from the political decision to the movement of infantry on the ground—this book is perfect. It recounts the discussions between military and political leaders, covering the decision to go to war and the war itself. The reader gets an inside look at how high-level briefings are conducted, the inter-administrative battles for influence in the war effort, and the logistical challenges of deploying 4,000 troops.

It is primarily aimed at military enthusiasts, detailing what worked, what didn’t, and why. Notably, it highlights the logistical issues involved in organizing deployments from Bamako and the tensions that arose from them.