will be speaking at the ceremony today just eight months aftermali -- after mali was re united -- reu nited what can the government do immediately to try to bring the country back together cap go -- together? >> france continues to play a big role in africa. france's popularity is at an all-time high. friends can take credit for stopping the advance of extremists and dismantling the country. putting the country back together will not be easy. there is a good chance they may succeed. the new president has shown he is ready to listen to the people in the north, to all ethnic groups and some others like arabs and those that have been fighting for independence. he has made some important moves, for example, establishing a ministry for the northern regions. the succession of presidents have ignored the desert north for many decades, which has led to the independence movements. the state has to be present in the vast country and provide services to the people. the people in the north feel like they have been ignored. that is the first task, along with reconciling the various ethnic groups and try