Panelists talked about the conflict in Mali and stability in the greater Sahel region, the transition area of Africa between the Sahara Desert in the north and the savanna zone to its south. They covered the history of Mali and described tribal tensions and separatist groups, and the consequences of the fall of Libyan ruler Moammar Qadhafi. They discussed the need for Western intervention to protect European and American interests and the dangers of increased al-Qaeda intervention. They also discussed the competing interests and refugees flowing into the region, the prospects for organizing a legitimate Malian state, and other topics.