Mali

A leading commander in Mali’s army has called on ethnic Tuaregs to fight jihadists in the north of the country in a WhatsApp audio message authenticated Monday by AFP. General El Hadj Ag Gamou, himself a Tuareg and a major figure in the Malian army’s fight against the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (ISGS) — which is affiliated with the Islamic State organization — called on the military help of all Tuaregs inside and outside the country.

Mali’s military government has been strengthening its relationship with Russia as anti-French sentiments peak in Bamako.

Mali's security situation has become "significantly worse" due to the ruling junta's choices, including an alleged decision to partner with Wagner, a Russian private security firm, a senior US official said Wednesday. 

Extremist groups are again trafficking weapons from Libya and other sources into the Sahel, signaling a potential escalation of violence. Analysts say the increase comes after a period of relatively low trafficking levels.

Mali's foreign affairs minister on Tuesday said the military government would exercise its right to self-defence if France continued to undermine the West African country's sovereignty and national security.

The situation in Mali continues to justify sustained international attention and engagement, the top UN official in the West African country told the Security Council on Tuesday. … He briefed ambassadors on progress in the transition and peace process, while also addressing ongoing insecurity and rising humanitarian needs. 

Mali's proposed new constitution will shift the balance of executive power from the parliament towards the president. Junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita received a draft of the proposed constitution this week. The document, which is a key part of the military's bid to retain power until 2024, has not been made public.

Burkina Faso has become the third West African country to acquire Turkish-made armed drones for use in the fight against extremism.

Ten years after the start of the Malian crisis, political and security instability in the Sahel have changed in scale and nature, and spilled over across national frontiers.

[…] The reporting period was characterized by important political advances in relation to the strategic priorities of MINUSMA.