Latest Mali News

Nearly 70 migrants died when their boat sank en route to Spain, a Malian minister says

Dec. 27, 2024 07:38 AM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Nearly 70 migrants died when their boat sank as they tried to reach Spain earlier this month, Mali’s Minister for Malians Living Abroad said. In a press release on Thursday, Mossa Ag Attaher announced that a migrant boat bound for Spain sank on Dec. 19. The...

West Africa regional bloc approves exit timeline for 3 coup-hit member states

Dec. 15, 2024 12:51 PM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS approved Sunday an exit timeline for three coup-hit nations after a nearly yearlong process of mediation to avert the unprecedented disintegration of the grouping. In a first in the 15-nation bloc’s nearly 50 years of...

Rights group accuses Russian mercenaries of abuses against civilians in Mali

Dec. 12, 2024 00:15 AM EST

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Mali’s armed forces, supported by Russian mercenaries, committed abuses against civilians since the withdrawal of a U.N. peacekeeping mission late last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday. Malian armed forces and the Russia-backed...

Mali court frees 11 signatories to declaration calling for ruling military junta to stand down

Dec. 06, 2024 08:03 AM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A court in Mali has freed 11 opposition leaders who were arrested in June on charges of plotting against the ruling military junta after calling for a return to civilian rule. Their provisional release on Friday has been seen as an attempt to calm the...

Drone strikes by Mali's military regime kill 8 Tuareg leaders in the country's north

Dec. 01, 2024 21:29 PM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Drone strikes by Mali's military regime killed eight Tuareg rebel leaders in the town of Tinzaouatine in the north of the country, a rebel spokesman said Sunday. It was the first time since the start of the rebellion in 2012 that so many Taureg leaders have been killed in a...

Mali arrests four senior employees of Canadian mining company as it presses firms for more taxes

Nov. 27, 2024 07:42 AM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Authorities in Mali have arrested four senior employees of a Canadian mining company as the military regime in the West African nation continues to detain workers to pressure companies in its crucial mining sector to pay millions in additional taxes. Barrick...

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

Nov. 26, 2024 15:51 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 cuts TV news station's signal over broadcast criticizing Burkina Faso's ruling junta

Nov. 26, 2024 11:49 AM EST

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali’s ruling junta cut the signal of the popular news broadcaster Joliba TV News after a prominent politician criticized the military rulers of neighboring Burkina Faso during a televised debate, a journalist for the channel said Tuesday. “This morning, the...

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...