The potential is high for foreign military intervention in Mali. Mali remains in crisis. A military coup early this year followed by an insurgency attack in the north threatens the stability of the entire West African sub-region. Just this week the Associated Press (AP) reported that France will move surveillance drones to West Africa and is secretively holding talks with U.S. officials in Paris as it seeks to steer international military action to help Mali’s government win back the northern part of the country.

IPS’ Foreign Policy In Focus (FPIF) and TransAfrica invite you to an interactive discussion with Coumba Toure, moderated by FPIF Co-Direcor, Emira Woods. Using photographs and song, Coumba will share about what is happening on the ground in Mali with the regular people, particularly with women and children. She will also discuss and sign her new book Twin’s of Bama, her first book in English.

Coumba Toure is an educator, a change-maker, and an artist from Mali. She serves as an advisor for IDEX, Global Fund for Women and the New Field Foundation. As a member of the African Feminist Forum she is on the board of the Urgent Action Fund for Women Human Rights, and is currently the Ashoka representative for Africa and a member of the Global Collaborative. Coumba has been writing books since her early years in life with her most recent being Twin’s of Bama.

“Writing and publishing stories for children is one way of working to bring about change, it is one of my favorite tools because it goes deep into the future.” – Coumba Toure.