Ouattara: No embarrassment over French help in Mali
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said he was not embarrassed that African states had relied on the old colonial power of France to help fight Islamist rebels in Mali. France intervened militarily in January amid fears the militants were preparing to advance on the capital Bamako.
President Ouattara told HARDtalk's Zeinab Badawi he had asked for France's help but was embarrassed the African Union and Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas) had not been better prepared.
You can watch the full interview on BBC World News on Tuesday 26 March at 14:30 and 22:30 GMT and on the BBC News Channel on Wednesday 20 March at 00:30 GMT.