In doing so they took the key town of Diabaly, in an hard fought battle with national forces.
French troops joined the war, on Friday, and had forced the rebels main push back.
However this flanking maneuver puts the Al Qaeda supported rebels closer yet to the capital of Bamako, a goal which France has pledged to keep from happening.
It also shows that the war will not be won, simply by the French showing up.
Five hundred and fifty French troops are already on the ground, and fighters and helicopters are being used to strike the rebels, from the air.
On Sunday, Britain and the US had announced they would immediately begin supporting France's efforts, the US with drones and intelligence, and the UK with transport planes.
Other European Union and African countries have pledged help, but they have not said when.
Burkina Faso, which lies to the south of Mali, set up military roadblocks along it's border to keep rebel forces out, while Mauritania, to the west, called up all troops as it went on high alert.
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