The following report is from David Brooks, who is embedded with French troops on the front lines in Mali.

NIONI, MALI — It’s the morning of January 20th, and I am awoken to cries of “Nous nous rendons! Nous nous rendons!” (We surrender! We surrender!) Elements of the French 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade are attempting to surrender to a local shepherd.

“At first, I was scared because I see these soldiers running toward me with their weapons,” confesses Seyba Mikito, the 10-year-old shepherd the soldiers attempted to surrender to. “But then they threw their weapons at my feet and started kissing my face.”

Life is difficult for the soldiers of the 27th. Without bread, cheese and wine, the soldiers are beginning to become anxious.