March 07
West Africa: Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to Launch Anti-Jihadist Force
Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have agreed to set up a joint force to tackle security threats across their territories. Read more »
February 08
West Africa: Mali, Niger and Burkina Say They Don't Feel Bound By One-Year Period to Leave Ecowas Ahead of Meeting
Mali reaffirmed its exit "without delay" from West African bloc Ecowas, saying it was not bound by the organisation's one-year timeframe for withdrawal. A few hours later, Burkina… Read more »
January 31
West Africa: Ecowas' Future in Jeopardy After Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso Exit
The withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the West African economic bloc triggered strong reactions among the group's members, with some promising to reverse the Sahel… Read more »
January 28
West Africa: Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso Quit Ecowas Regional Block
Three West African junta-led states Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso said on Sunday they are leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) immediately, according to a… Read more »
November 13, 2023
Mali: Fighting Between Mali Army, Militants Reported
The Mali army, with significant support from Russia's paramilitary outfit Wagner, engaged in a battle with militants of the CSP-PSD coalition, for control of Kidaon on Saturday,… Read more »
November 02, 2023
Mali: Ten Years Ago, RFI Reporters Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Were Murdered in Mali
RFI reporters Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were shot dead in northern Mali on 2 November 2013 after concluding an interview with a Tuareg leader. Ten years later, questions… Read more »
October 16, 2023
Mali: Mali Junta Upholds UN Peacekeepers' Departure, Sends More Troops North
While the UN voiced concern over an escalation of fighting in in Azawad in northern Mali, the Malian foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop said this weekend that the withdrawal of United… Read more »
September 20, 2023
Mali: Armed Group Calls for the 'Fall of the Junta'
One of the armed groups from northern Mali has called for a full-scale war against the junta. This despite attempts at dialogue and fears for the peace deal between the ex-rebels… Read more »
September 15, 2023
West Africa: French Minister Denies Boycotting African Artists After Visa Suspension
France's Culture Minister on Friday said the suspension of visas for artists from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso was due to security concerns in light of the recent military coups in… Read more »
September 13, 2023
Mali: Mali Faces an Increase of Tuareg Armed Groups Attacks in the North
Armed groups from northern Mali on Tuesday claimed they captured the key town of Bourem, located between Gao and Timbuktu, before pulling out of the town, fuelling fears of the… Read more »
September 11, 2023
West Africa: Niger's Junta Finds Support in Mali and Russia, but France Stands Firm
The leaders of Russia and Mali have agreed the political crisis in Niger should be resolved using diplmoacy and not force. Meanwhile France has rejected accusations by Niger's coup… Read more »
August 07, 2023
Burkina Faso: Mali and Burkina Faso Send Joint Delegation to Niamey 'In Solidarity' With Niger
Mali and Burkina Faso will send a joint official delegation to coup-hit Niger on Monday in a show of "solidarity" between the nations - all of whom are ruled by juntas. Meanwhile a… Read more »
July 22, 2023
Mali: New Constitution Adopted After Court Validation
The Constitutional Court in Mali has endorsed the final result of last month's referendum on forming a new constitution. With nearly 97 percent of the vote in favour, it is a major… Read more »
July 01, 2023
Mali: UN Votes for MINUSMA Peacekeepers to Leave Mali
The UN Security Council has voted not to maintain MINUSMA, the UN peacekeeping force in Mali, as the mission ends on this day. Read more »
June 28, 2023
Mali: UN Vote On Maintaining Its Peace Force in Mali Is Postponed to Friday
The UN Security Council is due to hold a vote Friday on whether to maintain Minusma - the UN peacekeeping force in Mali - after 30 June when the mission ends. Read more »
June 26, 2023
Mali: 'Yes' to Junta's Constitution in Mali Opens Way for 2024 Elections
Malian voters overwhelmingly approved changes to the constitution in a referendum held on 18 June, but the low turn-out and absence of participation of the Tuareg rebels in the… Read more »
June 21, 2023
West Africa: Security in West Africa At Risk After Mali Asks UN Peace Mission to Leave, U.S. Says
The US State Department has said it "regrets" the Mali military regime's decision to call for the United Nations to withdraw its peacekeeping force from the West African country. Read more »
Mali: Referendum Leaves the Country Divided On Its Political Future
The results of the referendum in Mali are due this week. For the ruling junta, the referendum paves the way for new elections in 2024. However, many have described it as a… Read more »
June 18, 2023
Mali: Divided Mali Votes On Constitution That Could Pave Way for Presidential Poll
Malians go to the polls Sunday to vote on the governing junta's constitution. The country's military rulers say the document has been drafted with the input of ordinary citizens,… Read more »
June 03, 2023
Mali: Campaign Kicks Off for Mali's Long-Awaited Referendum On a New Constitution
Campaigning for Mali's referendum on long-delayed changes to its constitution kicked off on Friday, ahead of the vote on 18 June. The country's military rulers say the new… Read more »
May 26, 2023
Mali: Six Months After Mali Banned French Funding for NGOs, How Are Aid Groups Coping?
Six months after Mali's interim authorities decided to block all French public funding for non-governmental organisations operating in the country, RFI spoke to workers on the… Read more »
May 18, 2023
Mali: French Army Failed to Stop Journalist's Kidnapping in Mali - Investigation
French forces tried to use a journalist's visit to northern Mali to track a jihadist leader but failed to prevent the reporter from being kidnapped by the militants, a joint… Read more »
April 13, 2023
Mali: UN Chief Guterres Pressures Mali's Junta On Return to Constitutional Rule
In a report presented to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Mali's ruling junta to "accelerate" the pace of the handover,… Read more »
April 09, 2023
Mali: Malian Director to Be Awarded Carrosse d'Or At Cannes
The Carrosse d'Or will be awarded to Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé on 17 May in Cannes, at the opening of the Directors' Fortnight, the Society of Film Directors… Read more »
March 12, 2023
Mali: Has the French Government Forgotten Hostage Olivier Dubois?
French journalist Olivier Dubois was taken hostage in Mali nearly two years ago. His family and support group regularly contact the French authorities and try to raise public… Read more »