Initially, the mission was to begin in September 2013, but after an unexpected advance by the rebel forces in early January 2013 and the subsequent French intervention, ECOWAS decided to immediately deploy the AFISMA forces. On 17 January, Nigeria began deploying air and ground forces to Mali. The Nigerian deployment was followed by the arrival of a 160-man contingent from Burkina Faso the following week. The first commander of AFISMA is Nigerian Major General Abdulkadir Shehu. The following forces have been committed to AFISMA: