At least ten northern rebels have fled to neighboring Mali, to avoid getting killed by violent factional fighting. UN investigators recently found a mass grave containing the bodies of 99 rebels who lost out in a June battle between northern rebel factions. Other dissident rebels have fled to Burkina Faso. While the government is trying to assemble an effective farming force, the northern rebels have split into warlord dominated factions and are fighting among themselves. 

There are 4,000 French peacekeepers in the country, who mainly see that the government and rebel troops do not move into each others territory. There are another 6,200 UN peacekeepers on the way, who will supervise disarming of the rebels and pro-government militias.