Mali

Mali’s military-appointed prime minister has lashed out at France and the United Nations in a grievance-filled address over his nation’s deteriorating security situation while praising the “exemplary” cooperation with Russia.

The protestors waved Malian flags and chanted anti-UN slogans. Others carried Russian flags as they marched through the streets of the capital. … The protestors accused the mission of undermining Mali's sovereignty. 

The defence ministers and chiefs of staff of the G5 Sahel countries held an extraordinary meeting in Niamey on Thursday to consider a "new strategy" for the anti-jihadist force after Mali withdrew in May, AFP learnt Friday.

Germany has again suspended its reconnaissance patrols in eastern Mali that are part of a UN peacekeeping mission after failing to get flyover rights, the military said Monday. The permission is needed for flights between Gao, home to the German military’s main base in Mali, and Niamey, the capital of neighbouring Niger.

In place of the government, fighters from the Coordination of Azawad Movements take charge of maintaining security in the strategic town of Kidal.

The Sahel countries are facing the following dilemma: how to fight terrorism without the cooperation of that scourge epicenter ei Mali?

Militant Islamist group violence is accelerating in Mali, advancing a complex insurgency in north, central, and increasingly southern Mali that further threatens the country’s stability.

Germany has resumed reconnaissance patrols in eastern Mali as part of a UN peacekeeping mission, the military said Wednesday, after suspending the operations last month when the Malian government denied flyover rights.

Jihadists affiliated to the Islamic State group have seized a town in northern Mali after bitter fighting with local rebels and rival militants linked to Al-Qaeda, several sources said Wednesday.

Les responsables des juntes au pouvoir au Mali et au Burkina Faso, deux pays sahéliens en proie à des attaques de groupes islamistes, ont décidé de « renforcer leur partenariat militaire », a annoncé dimanche 4 septembre la présidence burkinabée.