People donate blood, on January 14, 2013 in Bamako. Islamists have retreated in the east of Mali but French forces are facing a difficult situation in the west of the country where rebels are well armed, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 14. France launched the operation alongside the Malian army on January 11, 2013 to counter a push south by the insurgents who had threatened to advance on the capital Bamako.