The Malian community living in Cote d'Ivoire has began a campaign to mobilize funds to support the country's army which is involved in a counter-offensive against the rebels, a source from the community told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The source said that so far, about 200,000 U.S. dollars has been given to the Malian authorities as the contribution to help the army push back the rebels who have been occupying the Northern region and who tried to move to the Central regions of the country. "The financial support is in response to the appeal by Mali's Interim President Dioncounda Traore who asked his fellow citizens to offer moral, material and financial support to the army after the capture of the town of Konna by the islamists," said Ousmane Diarra, an economic operator in Abidjan's central district of Adjame.

Diarra said the Malian diaspora will provide more support to the country's army which is being supported by the French army and the West African coalition in the operation to neutralize the rebels.

In the operation that has been dubbed as "Serval," France has been involved alongside Mali in a battle to stop the advancement of the rebels and restore the country's territorial integrity.

More forces from African countries are expected to arrive in Bamako to support the operation under the auspices of the International Support Mission for Mali (MISMA).