Latest Mali government News

At least 6 mercenaries with Russia's Wagner group killed in an extremist attack in Mali

Nov. 23, 2024 12:02 PM EST

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — At least six Russian mercenaries were killed in an attack by an al-Qaida-linked group in central Mali, according to a statement by the extremists on its media platform. The group, known by its acronym, JNIM, said it ambushed a convoy of mercenaries working for...

Mali's ruling military appoints new prime minister, a day after his predecessor was fired

Nov. 21, 2024 10:03 AM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali's ruling junta on Thursday appointed a new prime minister from the ranks of the military generals, a day after firing his predecessor for criticizing the military regime. The move effectively consolidates all power in the African country in the hands of...

Mali junta leader fires prime minister days after he criticizes the military regime

Nov. 20, 2024 16:29 PM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali's junta leader fired Prime Minister Choguel Maïga and the government on Wednesday, days after Maïga criticized the military regime. The move was announced in a presidential decree issued by Gen. Assimi Goita, Mali's leader, and read on state television...

Australian mine company to pay Mali junta $160 million after its CEO and 2 employees were detained

Nov. 18, 2024 19:53 PM EST

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Australia’s Resolute Mining said Monday it would pay $160 million to Mali’s ruling junta to resolve a tax dispute, more than a week after the company’s CEO and two employees were detained in the West African country. Earlier this month, the Australian...

Activists plant trees in Mali but residents strip them for firewood. They say there's no choice

Nov. 14, 2024 23:25 PM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — After years of serving as Mali's minister of the environment, Aida M'bo now spends her time planting trees in a fight that many in the arid West African country acknowledge they are losing. “Deforestation is an important issue in Mali,” she said, standing in...

Mali arrests top politician for criticizing Burkina Faso's ruling junta

Nov. 13, 2024 16:02 PM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali's ruling junta arrested one of the country's top politicians Wednesday for criticizing the military rulers of neighboring Burkina Faso, according to his son and a judiciary source. Issa Kaou N’Djim, who previously supported Mali's current military leader...

Mali detains top executive and 2 others from an Australian gold mining company over dispute

Nov. 11, 2024 02:57 AM EST

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — The military junta in Mali has arrested the top executive and two other employees of Australia’s gold mining company Resolute Mining while they were visiting the country for talks over an unspecified dispute, the company said Monday. The three –...

Military juntas in 3 West African nations investigate a French journalist over jihadi analysis

Sep. 26, 2024 08:37 AM EDT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Prosecutors in military junta-ruled Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso launched investigations on Wednesday against the French journalist and researcher Wassim Nasr into what they called his “apology of terrorism” and “complicity” in alleged terrorist acts, in the latest...

Media freedom group sounds alarm on increased security risks for local journalists in Africa's Sahel

Sep. 24, 2024 12:49 PM EDT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Local journalists in the Sahel region of Africa are facing increased security risks, a media freedom group said Tuesday, as extremist attacks and military coups have shaken the region in recent years. At least two community radio journalists were killed and...

Attacks by Islamic extremists are rampant in Africa's Sahel. Here's what we know about them

Sep. 22, 2024 03:04 AM EDT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Extremist attacks in Sahel, an arid swath of land south of the Sahara in Africa, have proliferated in recent months: Last week, Islamic militants attacked Bamako, the capital of Mali, for the first time in almost a decade, demonstrating their capacity to carry out large...