The Latest Breaking News from Bamako

With French troops poised to withdraw, Mali will have free rein to negotiate with jihadists

With France expected to announce the withdrawal of troops from Mali on Thursday, Mali's transitional government will have a free hand to negotiate directly with jihadist groups affiliated with al Qaeda, a move strongly opposed by Paris.

France 24 · Feb 16, 2022

France set to leave Mali for neighbouring countries to continue fight against terrorism

Nine years after first intervening in Mali to fight jihadism, France is likely to remove troops to neighbouring Sahel states amid escalating tension between Bamako and Paris.

Radio France Internationale · Feb 15, 2022

As militarisation spreads, ECOWAS faces credibility crisis

There have been four coups across West Africa in 18 months amid public collapse of trust in state institutions.

Al Jazeera · Feb 8, 2022

France and EU to review military presence in Mali after French ambassador is told to leave

France says it will review its military presence in Mali, along with its European partners, a day after the junta in Bamako ordered the French ambassador to leave.

Radio France Internationale · Feb 1, 2022

Mali expels French ambassador

In tonight's edition: Relations between France and Mali take a dramatic turn for the worse as Bamako gives the French ambassador to the country just 72 hours to leave. Also, after a three-year freeze, Rwanda finally opens its border with Uganda. And we end in South Africa, where Kommetdieding or…

France 24 · Feb 1, 2022

Mali and France, a timeline of mounting tensions

As the standoff between Bamako and Paris continues, here’s a timeline of key recent events.

Al Jazeera · Feb 1, 2022

Good coup, bad coup? Mali defies France as Burkina Faso calls for understanding

Condemn or cooperate? West African leaders are grappling with that question as they scramble for the antidote to coup contagion. Since regional bloc ECOWAS decided earlier this month to play hardball with Mali's junta, tensions have spiralled far and wide. Now Bamako is expelling France's ambassador amid a war of…

France 24 · Jan 31, 2022

Security in the Sahel: Is the Takuba Task Force still welcome in Mali?

While Paris was counting on the strengthening of the Takuba counter-terrorism force in the Sahel region to compensate for the drawdown of soldiers from its former Operation Barkhane, Denmark announced on Thursday that it would withdraw its troops from Mali at the request of the ruling junta. Does this mark…

France 24 · Jan 28, 2022

Denmark to withdraw troops from Mali after junta's demands

In tonight's edition: Tensions continue between Mali and Europe. Denmark has now announced it will withdraw a contingent of 100 troops from Mali against the backdrop of growing tensions between Bamako and Paris. Also, we see how refugees fleeing violence in Burkina Faso have been coping as they try to…

France 24 · Jan 27, 2022

Hit by sanctions, Mali faces price hikes and shortages of essential goods

Economic sanctions placed on Mali by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are causing inflation and food shortages in markets in the capital Bamako FRANCE 24’s James André reports.

France 24 · Jan 24, 2022