French Military Operations Face Growing Resistance in Mali
The French anti-terror mission Barkhane is losing support in Mali, as reflected in recent protests in the capital, Bamako. Attitudes towards the former colonial power are ambivalent, amid deteriorating security. Taxi drivers decorated their cars with the French flag eight years ago after French troops from the Serval mission, which was followed by the now Barkhane mission, were hailed as "liberators" after they succeeded in driving out the supporters of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) and Ansar Dine Islamic extremists from northern Mali. Katrin Gänsler writes for Deutsche Welle, that the situation has changed, and the relief and optimism has disappeared. The security situation has worsened, with not only the north but central Mali is now also affected.
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Mali:
French Military Operations Face Growing Resistance
DW, 22 January 2021
The French anti-terror mission Barkhane is losing support in Mali, as reflected in recent protests in the capital, Bamako. Attitudes to the former colonial power are ambivalent… Read more »
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West Africa:
France's Macron Holds Meeting With Mali's Interim Leader Ahead of G5 Sahel
RFI, 27 January 2021
French President Emmanuel Macron has met with Mali's interim leader on Wednesday to discuss joint security operations in the region amid a rise in jihadist attacks. This comes on… Read more »
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Mali:
Peacekeepers Under Attack Again - One Egyptian 'Blue Helmet' Dies, Another Seriously Injured
UN News, 16 January 2021
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned another fatal attack carried out against a peacekeeping convoy that left a 'blue helmet' from Egypt dead,… Read more »
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Mali:
Peace Agreements Signed in Central Mali
Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, 28 January 2021
The Fulani and Dogon communities have signed three peace agreements with humanitarian objectives on 12, 22 and 24 January 2021. Through these agreements, the communities further… Read more »
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Mali:
Mali in Transition - UN Peacekeeping Chief Takes Stock of Political and Security Developments
UN News, 22 January 2021
Against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region, the UN peacekeeping chief concluded a visit to the restive northwest African… Read more »
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Nigeria:
Jonathan Confident Mali Will Meet Return to Civil Rule Deadline
This Day, 15 January 2021
After two days of meetings with Malian political and civil society figures, the mediator for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), former president, Dr. Goodluck… Read more »
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Mali:
Transition Presents Opportunity to Break 'Vicious Circle of Political Crises'
UN News, 13 January 2021
The current political transition period in Mali offers an opportunity to "break out of the vicious circle of political crises followed by coups d'état", the UN envoy in the… Read more »
French troops with Operation Barkhane on patrol (file photo).
InFocus
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Since it started nine years ago, the Sahel security crisis has claimed tens of thousands of lives, forcibly displaced millions, and triggered record levels of food shortages. ... Read more »
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In an @allafrica interview as he ends of his tenure as the top Africa policymaker in the State Department, Assistant Secretary Tibor Nagy says the legacy of the outgoing ... Read more »
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Central Mali is now the deadliest region in the country for civilians, as violence has intensified considerably over the past three years. The population finds itself trapped ... Read more »
