Thousands of Malians were in the streets of the capital, Bamako, to protest against French interference and call for closer relations with Russia. The protest follows diplomatic tension between Paris and Bamako after Mali’s interim leaders acknowledged that they were in talks with the Russian mercenary group Wagner. The march …
Read More »Interim parliament in Mali grants coup leaders amnesty
Colonel Assimi Goïta and other army officers involved in overthrowing President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in August 2020 and interim president, Bah Ndaw, in May 2021, will not face prosecution. They have been granted amnesty by the country’s interim parliament. The motion was passed by an overwhelming majority of Mali’s National …
Read More »France warns Mali against Russian mercenary deal
The French defence minister, Florence Parly, has warned Malian government against entering into a deal with a Russian security firm. Wagner is said to be operating in several African countries as Russia plans to increase its influence. Malian military leaders are about to hire mercenaries for them. Ms Parly described …
Read More »Sahel defence ministers reveal their plan to defeat jihadists
Defence ministers of the G5 Sahel countries are meeting in Niger’s capital, Niamey, to find out a new approach to the jihadist insurgency in the region. Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad are facing major challenges with a wave of jihadist attacks and the planned withdrawal of the French-led …
Read More »Mali: former prime minister arrested over corruption allegation
Boubeye Maiga, Malian former prime minister was arrested on Thursday for his role in the purchase of a presidential plane during the rule of ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. “The exact reason for the arrest was not clear, but it was related to Mali’s purchase of a jet in 2014 …
Read More »Niger: hundreds of jihadists attack a military post
Hundreds of Islamist fighters have attacked a military post in the southern region of Diffa, the defence ministry in Niger says in a statement. The attack left sixteen soldiers dead and nine other wounded, it said. During the fight, Nigerien army succeeded in killing 50 members of the Boko Haram …
Read More »UN ‘strongly condemns’ attack on peacekeepers in central Mali
The United Nations has strongly condemned an attack on a peacekeepers base in central Mali. 28 peacekeepers from Togo were injured when the temporary UN base in Kerena, near Douentza, was hit by fire early Wednesday morning. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Islamic extremists linked to …
Read More »Mali and French troops kill 100 jihadists in offensive
The army in Mali says it has killed 100 jihadists in a joint offensive with French forces. In a statement, Mali’s military said another 20 Islamists were captured in the operation, which ran throughout January. Militants control large parts of the Sahel desert region. Since an Islamist insurgency erupted in …
Read More »Mali chooses AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to immunize its population
AstraZeneca vaccine is the one choosen by the Malian government to fight against the covid-19 pandemic in the country. The government intends to immunize 4.2 million people by the start of April. Health minister Fanta Siby said on Friday that the vaccination would first target medical staff, the elderly and …
Read More »Mali: interdiction of anti-france protests
Malian authorities have banned a protest scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in the capital Bamako against the presence of the French anti-jihadist force in the country. “The protest is not allowed because of the restrictions to slow down the spread of Covid-19”, said Bamako governor’s chief of staff Daniel Dembélé. The …
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