.. even before the intervention by Europeans and other Westerners, the conflict in Mali was already complex -- a hodgepodge of Islamist and separatist groups in the vast northern region of the desert country engaged in a battle with government troops based in the south. In addition, the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has begun sending troops into the country to defend the Bamako regime.

Aside from issues of religion and territorial sovereignty, another factor may be playing into this evolving drama -- race.