Mali News

Mali trial over 2015 Bamako attacks opens

By AFP

Bamako - A Malian court opened proceedings Tuesday against alleged Islamists who are accused of killing over two dozen people in attacks targeting foreigners in 2015, in a rare terror trial in the Sahel state.

France, Mali at odds over dialogue with jihadists

By AFP

Bamako - France and Mali differed on Monday over whether to talk to jihadists to help end the Sahel state's eight-year-old insurgency, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian ruling the option out.

$1.7 bln pledged in aid to save Sahel from 'breaking point'

By AFP

Geneva - International donors agreed Tuesday to give $1.7 billion in humanitarian aid to the central Sahel, after the United Nations said the northern African region plagued by violence and climate change was at "breaking point".

French aid worker freed by captors returns home from Mali

By AFP

Paris - French aid worker Sophie Petronin was reunited with her family on home soil Friday, a day after being freed by insurgents in Mali who abducted the 75-year-old on Christmas eve nearly four years ago.

'Mama Sophie', kidnapped Frenchwoman who spent years feeding Malian children

By AFP

Bordeaux - Frenchwoman Sophie Petronin, freed in Mali on Thursday after a long kidnap ordeal, dedicated years of her life to running a charity for malnourished children in the conflict-ridden Sahel state."She handed out food supplies.

French, Italian captives freed with top politician in Mali

By AFP

Bamako - Mali announced Thursday the release of an elderly French aid worker, two Italian captives and a top Malian politician, all believed to have been held by jihadists.

Mali frees more jihadists, boosting hostage release scenario

By AFP

Bamako - A second batch of jihadists has been freed in Mali, sources said Tuesday, boosting speculation that a French charity worker and Malian politician held by the insurgents may be freed in a swap.

Mali frees over 100 jihadists seeking hostage swap

By AFP

Bamako - Insurgency-hit Mali freed over 100 alleged or convicted jihadists over the weekend in a bid to secure the release of a top politician and French charity worker, an official in charge of the negotiations told AFP on Monday.

Mali frees over 100 jihadists seeking hostage swap

By AFP

Bamako - Insurgency-hit Mali has freed over 100 alleged or convicted jihadists to secure the release of a top politician and a French charity worker, sources close to the talks said Monday.

UN calls on new Mali government to implement peace agreement

By AFP

New York - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres this week called on Mali's transitional government to maintain a 2015 peace agreement deemed critical for the country's stability.The appeal came in a report submitted to the Security Council.

Far from the capital, Malian Sufi leader wields clout

By AFP

Timbuktu - Cattle herders, traders and heads of state are among the people who have sought the ear of the sharif of Nioro, one of Mali's most influential men, to whom they voice their needs, grievances and hopes.

Mali's new interim leader stands by handover, international accords

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's interim president, Bah Ndaw, was sworn into office on Friday after last month's putsch, vowing to hand over power within 18 months, honour international accords and pursue the fight against jihadist insurgents.

Ex-defence minister appointed Mali's transition leader

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's military junta announced the leaders of a new transition government in the Sahel state on Monday, which will retain strong army links despite international pressure to appoint civilians after a coup.

West Africa leaders press Mali junta over transition

By AFP

Aburi - West African leaders met the head of Mali's military junta on Tuesday to press for the return to civilian rule nearly a month after rebel officers seized power in the fragile state.

Mali junta vows 18-month transition govt as opponents cry foul

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's military junta on Saturday vowed to establish an 18-month transition government to return the country to civilian rule after last month's coup, but key figures protested the army's continued influence.

Mali junta launches 'consultation' amid pressure over handover

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's military junta on Thursday launched a three-day "national consultation" with political parties, unions and NGOs, facing questions at home and pressure from abroad over its plans for returning the country to civilian rule.

Mali junta launches 'consultation' amid pressure over handover

By AFP

W.African bloc urges Mali junta to appoint civilian transition head

By AFP

Niamey - The West African regional bloc ECOWAS on Monday called on Mali's military junta, which seized power last month, to appoint a civilian to head a transition government by September 15.

Mali's ill-equipped army in spotlight after coup

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's army, which staged last month's coup in the war-torn nation, is taking on a role in politics despite being hamstrung by a crippling lack of resources.

Mali junta opens talks on power handover

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's military junta began talks with opposition groups on Saturday on its promise to hand power back to civilians, after mounting pressure from neighbouring countries in the weeks since it overthrew the nation's leader.

French anti-jihadist forces kill civilian in Mali

By AFP

Paris - French anti-jihadist troops in Mali killed a civilian Tuesday and wounded two others after a bus refused to slow down in a volatile area despite their orders, the French army command said.

Mali junta to hold transition talks as pressure mounts

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's junta, which seized power two weeks ago, will hold transition talks with political parties and civil society groups this weekend following mounting pressure for a quick handover to civilian rule.

Mali junta postpones transfer of powers meeting as cracks emerge

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's military junta on Saturday postponed the first meeting on the transfer of power after rising tensions with the group that sparked the August 18 coup.

Mali junta says it freed ousted president ahead of ECOWAS summit

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's new military rulers said Thursday that former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was detained during the country's coup on August 18, had been freed.

Mali junta wants three-year military rule, agrees to free president

By AFP

Bamako - The junta that seized power in Mali wants a military-led transitional body to rule for three years and has agreed to release the ousted president, a source in a visiting West African delegation and the rebel soldiers said Sunday.

Mali junta wants three-year military rule, agrees to free president

By AFP

Bamako - The junta that seized power in Mali wants a military-led transitional body to rule for three years and has agreed to release ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, a source in a visiting West African delegation said Sunday.

West African delegation 'very hopeful' after meeting Mali junta

By AFP

Bamako - A West African delegation visiting Mali to push for a speedy return to civilian rule following a coup said it was "very hopeful" on Saturday after meeting with the country's military junta and the president it ousted.

Thousands celebrate Mali leader's ouster as diplomatic pressure builds after coup

By AFP

Bamako - Thousands of Malians took to the streets of the capital Bamako on Friday to celebrate the military ouster of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, as West African envoys prepared to join diplomatic pressure to resolve the crisis triggered by the coup.

Mali junta plans 'transitional' govt as W. African bloc stands by Keita

By AFP

Bamako - Mali's new military junta said Thursday it would put in place a transitional government as its West Africa neighbours said they would dispatch envoys to help secure "the immediate return of constitutional order" and called for its ousted president to b...

Mali coup leaves ex-colonial power France in a bind

By AFP

Paris - Mali's military coup presents former colonial power France with a diplomatic nightmare, having invested considerable military and political capital in a regional anti-jihadist campaign now in peril.