Majority oppose sending British troops to Mali but plurality still favour other forms of direct intervention.
A YouGov survey commissioned by the Sun shows that more than six in ten (63%) people are against deploying British troops to fight against rebels in Mali, compared to 15% who are in favour.
Earlier this month, France, the former colonial power of Mali, undertook military action to prevent Islamic militants in the Northern part of the African country from overthrowing the government. The British government has ordered about 330 military personnel to Mali as well as supplying transport planes to help the French forces.
Our research shows that almost half (49%) of the public support the government’s decision to send transport planes to aid the French military campaign in Mali, while just over three in ten (31%) people oppose it.
Public want direct intervention
Despite a majority saying they oppose sending British troops to the area, a plurality of people are in favour of Britain directly intervening in Mali by providing spy planes, intelligence officers, special forces and drones to support French and Mali troops.
- More than half (55%) of Brits would support the decision to send spy planes to help gather military intelligence for French and Mali troops, compared to just over a quarter (26%) who would oppose this
- 44% of people say they would be in favour of Britain providing intelligence officers, special forces and drones to help support French and Mali forces, while 35% are against this action
