Africa Mali West Africa World 

ECOWAS to setup peacekeeping force to deal with coups

– – West African leaders have announced their intention to establish a regional peacekeeping force to deal with coups. The said peacekeeping force would also help deal with the surging militant activities in member states. West Africa has for the past two years witnessed several coups. The regional body wants to more to boost constitutional government in the region. ECOWAS… Read More
Africa Egypt Mali North Africa West Africa World 

Egypt suspends activities of its contingent in Mali UN mission

– – Egypt on Friday announced it has suspended the activities of its contingent in Mali peacekeeping mission temporarily. The United Nations was informed of this move by Egypt with officials citing increased attacks on peacekeepers who escort convoys supplying UN bases. A UN spokesperson said on Friday that the attacks have caused the death of seven Egyptian soldiers since… Read More
Africa Ivory Coast Mali West Africa World 

Mali suspends all new UN peacekeeping missions

– – Mali’s military-led government has announced it is suspending all new troop rotations by U.N. peacekeeping mission MINUSMA temporarily. The announcement on Thursday comes days after Malian forces arrested 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast who had arrived in country for the MINUSMA operations. Mali said the soldiers entered the country without permission, but Ivory Coast said the Malian authorities… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

ECOWAS lifts sanctions on Mali and Burkina Faso

– – West African leaders have announced the lifting of economic sanctions on Mali amid progress by the coup leaders there to transition into civilian rule. At their summit in Ghana’s capital, Accra the ECOWAS leaders expressed happiness at the new time table presented by Mali following months of negotiation. The ECOWAS envoy to Mali, the former Nigerian President, Goodluck… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

Mali: ECOWAS condemns extended military governance

– – The West African regional bloc Ecowas has condemned the decision of the military government in Mali to extend the transition to civilian government by two years while negotiations continue. Mali’s junta leader, Colonel Assimi Goïta, on Monday signed a decree fixing the length of the transition period to 24 months. He signed a decree read out on state… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

Mali pulls out of West African military force

– – The military government of Mali has withdrawn from a multinational military force fighting Islamist militants in the West Africa’s Sahel region. The West African state is protesting against its rejection as head of the G5 regional group that also includes Mauritania, Chad, Burkina Faso and Niger. A statement by Mali’s junta, which ousted former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta… Read More
Africa Ghana Mali West Africa World 

British Airways flight enroute to Ghana stopped from using Malian airspace

– – An Accra-bound British Airways flight was prevented from using the Malian airspace on Friday. The Military rulers in the West African state reportedly refused to allow the British Airways flight BA081, to pass through the Malian airspace. The flight carrying about 200 passengers was forced to return to London. According to a passenger, an attempt by the flight… Read More
Africa Ghana Mali West Africa World 

ECOWAS sets new poll deadlines for Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea

West African coup states – Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have been given new deadlines to ensure elections take place to return them into civilian rule. Leaders of the regional bloc, ECOWAS on Friday after their summit in Ghana’s capital Accra agreed to give Mali’s military transitional government 12 to 16 months to hold elections. In a statement the heads… Read More
Africa Ghana Mali West Africa World 

ECOWAS holds summit on Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali

– – The heads of state in West Africa are holding an extra-ordinary summit on Friday in the Ghanaian capital of Accra. The ECOWAS leaders will be discussing the political situation in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, where soldiers recently seized power. These three countries are already under sanctions after their coup leaders failed to comply with ECOWAS directives to… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

Mali’s coup leaders and Ecowas fail to reach a deal on poll date

– – Mali’s political crisis remains unresolved after the country’s coup leaders and those from the regional bloc, ECOWAS failed to agree on a new poll date. The West African nation has been under harsher sanctions from ECOWAS and the European Union after interim President Assimi Goïta and his team prolonged the transitional period. There were plans for elections this… Read More