The European Union has hailed parliamentary elections in Mali a success - despite a low turnout and some protests.
It's another sign of progress in the country, where British troops are part of a European mission to train up the national army.
In 2012 the North of Mali was taken over by Tuareg separatists, then al-qaeda linked groups.
This year, with the south also under threat, French forces joined the Malian army to drive the militants out. Britain gave logistic support.
In the first of a series of special reports from Southern Mali we look at the EU training mission and assesses progress in the country.
