Days after French and Malian forces liberated Gao, the town's governor offered his thanks --- presenting the forces with five cows.

French Special Forces led a misison to drive al Qaeda linked fighters from the area over the weekend.

International forces were also warmly received in Ansongo. Locals cheered a convoy of 150 military vehicles from Niger.

Just three miles from the strategic town of Gao, Ansongo was where Islamist fighters carried out a forced amputation last year --- not long after they took control of the area.