Mali: dette må du vite

Mali's capital city Bamako - a major West African hub and home to more than three million people - is under a partial blockade by Islamist militants, days after the country's defence minister was assassinated there. Mali vokser denne fredag frem som et av temaene som tiltrekker seg oppmerksomhet i Norway.

Fakta

• Mali's capital city Bamako - a major West African hub and home to more than three million people - is under a partial blockade by Islamist militants, days after the country's defence minister was assassinated there.
• The blockade comes days after Mali's defence minister was assassinated in a series of nationwide attacks.
• The joint anti-jihadist force of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali carried out "intense air campaigns" in Malian territory following attacks by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists and Tuareg separatists, the government of Niger said late Thursday.
• Over the weekend jihadists and their Tuareg separatist allies launched the largest assault on Mali in nearly 15 years, capturing the key northern town of Kidal and killing Defence Minister Sadio Camara.
• The African neighbours Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger together make up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which created a joint force against jihadist groups of 5,000 men, increased to 15,000 in mid-April.

Det vi vet

I detalj, the blockade comes days after Mali's defence minister was assassinated in a series of nationwide attacks.

Konkret, the joint anti-jihadist force of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali carried out "intense air campaigns" in Malian territory following attacks by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists and Tuareg separatists, the government of Niger said late Thursday.

I tillegg Over the weekend jihadists and their Tuareg separatist allies launched the largest assault on Mali in nearly 15 years, capturing the key northern town of Kidal and killing Defence Minister Sadio Camara.

Det er verdt å merke seg at the African neighbours Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger together make up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which created a joint force against jihadist groups of 5,000 men, increased to 15,000 in mid-April.

På dette stadiet Around a thousand people gathered in the Nigerien capital of Niamey the same day to express "solidarity with the Malian people," according to live footage of the event on social media.

Tallene

I detalj, Last weekend saw nationwide, coordinated attacks by an alliance of jihadists and separatist rebels in the north - the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) - seeking to overthrow the military regime of Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a coup in 2020.

Konkret, He was buried on Thursday amid tight security in front of thousands of people, including Goïta, reports the AFP news agency.

I tillegg ‎A total blockade has been imposed on Ségou, a town less than 80m (50 miles) from the capital, leaving hundreds of vehicles, trucks, buses and cars, stranded.

Det er verdt å merke seg at after a similar alliance of jihadists and ethnic Tuareg separatists advanced on Bamako in 2013, French forces, alongside those from other African countries, intervened to protect the capital.

Bakgrunnen

Det er verdt å merke seg at Mali's army has been working with the Russian paramilitary group, the Africa Corps, which emerged from the Wagner Group, against the insurgents.

På dette stadiet a Kremlin spokesperson on Thursday vowed that Russian forces would remain in Mali "to combat extremism, terrorism and other harmful phenomena and will continue to provide assistance to the current government".

I detalj, Russian paramilitary carried out air strikes in Mali as rebels advanced, footage shows.

Konkret, ‎Several countries - including France, Canada, and the United Kingdom - have urged their citizens to leave Mali, while the US recommends staying at home.

I tillegg I won't leave," one Frenchwoman told the BBC, "I love Mali".

Oppsummering

• The blockade comes days after Mali's defence minister was assassinated in a series of nationwide attacks.
• The joint anti-jihadist force of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali carried out "intense air campaigns" in Malian territory following attacks by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists and Tuareg separatists, the government of Niger said late Thursday.
• The African neighbours Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger together make up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which created a joint force against jihadist groups of 5,000 men, increased to 15,000 in mid-April.
• Raskt voksende søk: Putin tatt på senga: Russiske styrker på retrett, Hør «Idol»-Mali 20 år etter, Jihadist-grupper har angrepet flere byer i Mali, Bestemte seg brått: – Vi har lyst å hjelpe.