British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrived in Malian soil Monday as part of the UK government’s attempts to support France’s war on the West African country

British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrived in Malian soil Monday as part of the UK government’s attempts to support France’s war on the West African country.

Hague visited the Malian capital of Bamako for talks with military commanders and local politicians weeks after France launched a military offensive in the African nation.

He became the first British minister to visit the country since the UK began to support the French-led war on Mali.

Britain has already contributed more than 300 military personnel, two heavy-lift C-17 transport planes and a Sentinel surveillance aircraft to France's aggressive operation.

Speaking after arriving in Bamako, Hague said, “Mali is at the heart of a range of complex political, security and development challenges that have the potential to affect the wider region.”

Paris launched the war on January 11 under the pretext of halting the advance of the fighters in the African country.

The French-led war in Mali has caused a serious humanitarian crisis in northern areas of the country and has displaced thousands of people.