Mali

The chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said on Thursday that a coup in Mali was "contagious" and had set a dangerous trend that led to subsequent coups in the region.

[…] While mandates from international coalitions aim to restore stability, governance and security to the country, a misinterpretation of the relationship between violent extremism and organized crime has led to an emphasis on technical, militarized approaches that do not adequately consider consequential dynamics on the ground.

At the 4th Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Accra, Ghana, on January 9, 2022, to review the political situation in Mali, additional sanctions were imposed on the country due to the failure of the transitional authorities to take the necessary steps to organize presidential elections before February 27, 2022.

As the Wagner Group, Russia’s most infamous private military company, entrenches itself in Mali, the international community should rethink its strategy to stymie Russian irregular efforts in Africa to better reflect local interests and complex histories.

France will not be cowed by the junta in Mali to stop its counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel region and will also focus on supporting Gulf of Guinea nations to prevent militants crossing into their territories, its foreign minister said.

Norway’s defense minister announced Tuesday that the country had abandoned plans to send a contingent of troops to Mali, saying it was unable to reach an agreement with the military government in Bamako.

Mali's military leaders are expelling the French ambassador over what they called "outrageous" comments made by the French foreign minister about the transitional government.

The European Union has agreed to impose travel bans and asset freezes on five members of Mali’s junta after the military rulers went back on an agreement to organise elections in February, three diplomats said.

Since being sanctioned by ECOWAS for failure to organize elections, Mali’s military rulers have taken a hard stance against countries, including France, that backed the sanctions. … This week, Mali ordered a recently arrived Danish contingent of the European Takuba task force to “withdraw immediately” from Malian territory.

His death brings to 53 the total number of combat deaths suffered by French forces since they first deployed troops to Mali nine years ago to fight an insurgency by Islamic extremists.