` `` Welcome to Timbuktu , a human being is like an ant you squash , '' Mali resident says . Residents : Once vibrant northern Gao is now a shadow of itself . ` ` Home is not sweet anymore , '' Mali native says . Outraged soldiers accused the government of not providing adequate equipment to battle ethnic Tuareg rebels roaming the vast desert in the north . An offensive led by Islamic troops is aimed at flushing out the militants .
` `` Welcome to Timbuktu , a human being is like an ant you squash , '' Mali resident says . Residents : Once vibrant northern Gao is now a shadow of itself . `` Home is not sweet anymore , '' Mali native says . An offensive led by Islamic troops is aimed at flushing out the militants .