MALI: In a move widely perceived as an effort to maintain its grip on power against the clear wishes of the populace, the ruling military junta in Mali, headed by General Assimi Goita, has been granted an additional five-year presidential mandate. This approval came from the country's transitional parliament following the passage of a bill. [...]

Mali: The Kayes region, which borders Senegal and is crucial to Mali’s economy, had largely been spared from the violence perpetrated by armed groups that has plagued the country for decades. However, this changed last week when armed men launched a series of coordinated attacks on military sites in various Malian towns, prompting the armed [...]

Mali: Malian journalist Seydou Oumar Traoré was arrested on May 26 for criticizing Guinea’s transitional president, Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, highlighting a disturbing pattern of imprisoning Malian critics of regional military governments. Traoré, who had recently returned from an official trip to Kidal with the Malian Minister of Defense’s delegation, stated in a widely shared social [...]

Mali: Mali and Russia have entered into several agreements to enhance trade and bolster economic relations. One of these agreements focuses on increased collaboration in nuclear energy, with prior discussions about building a Russian-designed nuclear power plant in Mali as a key energy initiative. This official visit is expected to further strengthen the relationship between [...]

Mali: Assimi Goita has been the president of the transitional government since May 28, 2021. It now appears that he may remain in this position until at least 2030, despite never being elected by the Malian people. After taking power through two military coups in 2020 and 2021, Goita received political support from important allies [...]

Mali: The Wagner Group has declared its withdrawal from Mali, stating that it has completed its primary mission in the West African nation. The Russian mercenary organization has been active in Mali since 2021, collaborating with the military to combat Islamist militants. Wagner claimed it has "fought terrorism alongside the people of Mali," resulting in [...]

Mali: A group affiliated with al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a significant assault on the Malian town of Boulikessi, during which they took control of a military base. This incident highlights the deteriorating security situation in Mali and the broader Sahel region. The attacks followed a warning from the United States Africa Command regarding the [...]

Mali: Doumbia is one of thousands of individuals currently stranded in Mali, a nation suffering from extreme poverty and insecurity, where 70% of its population, which is at least 22 million, lacks basic literacy skills. The recent funding cuts from USAID coincided with the withdrawal of support from Mali's other European development partners following the [...]