Mali

The president of the African Union Commission has expressed “deep concern” over the security situation in Mali and an ongoing jihadist blockade that has impacted civilians, and called for “urgent international action”. Given the situation, France has recommended its citizens leave the country as soon as possible.

The United States warned Americans in Mali on Tuesday to leave the country immediately using commercial flights, as its government comes under increasing pressure from al Qaeda-linked insurgents, who are imposing a fuel blockade.

A trial has opened for Moussa Mara, the former prime minister of Mali, who is currently jailed by the country’s military rulers over visiting political prisoners and expressing solidarity with them online.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced they will immediately withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), labelling it an "instrument of neo-colonialist repression". … They accused the ICC of targeting less privileged countries, echoing criticism from Rwanda's President Paul Kagame who has previously accused the ICC of holding an anti-African bias.

Relations between France and Mali have worsened, after France suspended counter-terrorism cooperation and ordered two Malian diplomats to leave Paris. The move came in response to the arrest of a French embassy staff member in Bamako last month. 

In a rare acknowledgement of the seriousness of the situation affecting the landlocked country, Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga said the authorities were trying to improve security on the routes. The blockade - a potentially serious escalation of Mali's long-running jihadist insurgency - is particularly affecting the supply of fuel, which could cripple the country.

Mali’s armed forces are stepping up their efforts to protect strategic trade routes linking the capital Bamako to neighbouring Senegal. … Last week, transport companies suspended operations along the route after al-Qaeda linked militants Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) announced a blockade on the capital and began stopping and setting fire to fuel trucks.  

Choguel Maiga, the former prime minister of Mali, was taken into custody on Wednesday after he was charged with embezzlement.

Mali has arrested around 20 soldiers suspected of wishing to overthrow the junta, which itself took power in the West African country in a coup, sources told AFP on Sunday.

Terror groups are increasingly using new tactics, notably armed suicide or kamikaze drones, according to a government statement released following several attacks on cities in western Mali on 1 July. The use of commercially available small civilian drones for strikes by terrorist and armed rebel groups is not limited to Mali, and has become prevalent throughout the Central Sahel.