The Latest Breaking News from Mali

West African coastal states are holding talks on boosting military cooperation against jihadist violence spilling over from the Sahel. This follows recent announcements that several international peacekeeping contingents are being withdrawn from Mali.

Germany latest to end peacekeeping mission as operations prove unable to stop Islamic extremist insurgency

James Heappey cites concerns over the Malian government’s links to Russian mercenary group Wagner

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said the 300-strong UK contingent will end its deployment early.

This week, President Emmanuel Macron announced the official end of France's anti-jihadist mission in West Africa – Operation Barkhane. The move was accelerated by a collapse of relations with Mali's military junta, leading to the withdrawal of French troops as the jihadist insurgency across the Sahel continues.

Brussels’ plan to oppose a ban on trade in hippopotamus products puts species at risk, says letter signed by states, including Mali, Niger and Senegal

Bamako (AFP) - Thousands of demonstrators thronged Mali's capital Bamako on Friday to protest the publication of a video on social media deemed blasphemous against Islam.

Mali expects Russia to send shipments of fuel, fertiliser and food worth around $100 million to Mali in the coming weeks, the West African country's economy minister, Alousseini Sanou, said on Wednesday.

Violence in the Sahel is escalating, killing more than 11,000 people in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso since 2012. Such conflict has emerged for a number of reasons, including religious insurgencies and access to water and grazing resources. Climate change leading to environmental degradation exacerbates these clashes.