The Latest Breaking News from Bamako

Despite the departure of the Wagner Group from Mali, Russia is continuing to strengthen its military presence in the country through its Africa Corps. Using satellite imagery, shipping logs and eyewitness reports, journalists from RFI have confirmed that Russia is discreetly shipping in large quantities of military equipment via the…

Mali, a landlocked Sahelian nation of 25 million people, has faced significant instability since 2012, marked by terrorism, state neglect and armed conflicts.

At least two Malian pro-democracy activists have been taken away in Bamako by armed men after criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order and elections

Around 100 political parties in Mali have rejected the military junta’s suspension of all political activity and vowed to reschedule a banned protest. The move comes amid growing anger over plans to extend the junta leader’s rule by five years and dissolve all parties.

Civic spaces are shrinking under Goita’s rule, democracy activists say, as the military suspends ‘political activity’.

A prominent opposition leader in Mali will stand trial next month for criticising the country’s military rulers, as tensions escalate over a plan to dissolve political parties and delay a return to civilian rule. The arrest of Mamadou Traoré, a vocal critic of the junta, comes amid protests in Bamako…

Amadou Bagayoko (1954-2025), iconic Malian guitarist, singer and composer of the famed duo Amadou & Mariam – known as “the blind couple of Mali” – passed away on 4 April in Bamako. He was 70.

Conflict monitors say Wagner fighters have intensified combat and widened their operation areas since 2023.

In the heart of Bamako, architect Mariam Sy is leading a quiet revolution – one handful of earth at a time. Her vision merges Mali's ancient building wisdom with contemporary design, creating structures that seem to rise organically from the Sahelian soil.

Following a deadly attack in Mali's capital by al-Qaida linked militants, authorities there have temporarily closed livestock markets that typically are run by an ethnic group that authorities associate with the militants

This is the first major attack on Bamako since 2015 when fighters targeted foreigners in a nightclub and hotel.