Donors are seeking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars on Tuesday for an African-led military intervention in Mali, aimed at defeating Islamist rebels and regaining the government's control over the entire country.
At least 950 million dollars was needed, Ivorian President Alassane Ouatarra told donors as the conference kicked off at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. AU officials had previously suggested some 450 million would be required.
Ouatarra - who is also head of West African bloc ECOWAS - said at least 10,000 soldiers were needed to free Mali of Islamist extremists, up from the 3,300 originally planned.
Malian interim president Dioncounda Traore called for massive support from the international community.
"The decisive intervention by the French army has stopped the progression of our common enemy," Traore said, referring to the rebels, whom he accused of narco-trafficking.
French President Francois Hollande on Monday said French and African forces were succeeding against Islamist rebels, but that it was up to African forces to finish the job.
ECOWAS said it would give 10 million dollars; Ghana pledged 3 million; Senegal and Ivory Coast pledged 2 million each; and Nigeria 5 million.
The AU had previously pledged 50 million dollars to the peacekeeping force, known as AFISMA, in the first ever direct donation from the organization to such an operation. The bloc hopes this will spur further donations from African nations and Western donors.
The European Union promised some 50 million euros (67.2 million dollars) for the force, but emphasized that the money will not be used for weapons.
Timbuktu and Gao are said to be firmly under French and Malian control, leaving the city of Kidal, near the border with Algeria, as the last key urban stronghold under the Islamists rule. But the rebels are still said to be present in the vast desert of northern Mali.
Media reports showed residents of Timbuktu celebrating the French troops' entry to the historic city. The mayor of the World Heritage site said the retreating Islamists set fire to a library housing ancient manuscripts.
AFISMA was originally intended to be deployed in September, but a rebel advance towards the south in January prompted the French to immediately intervene at the Malian government's request. The European nation has some 2,500 soldiers on the ground.
The African force is expected to comprise several thousand soldiers, but many will require specialized training. So far, hundreds of troops from nations such as Chad and Nigeria are in Mali while more are awaiting deployment from neighbouring Niger.