The Latest Breaking News from Bamako

The three member states of the Alliance of Sahel States have announced their immediate withdrawal from the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court, accusing the ICC of practising “selective justice”. The declaration was made simultaneously on Monday in the capitals of Bamako, Niamey and Ouagadougou.

Relations between France and Mali have worsened, after France suspended counter-terrorism cooperation and ordered two Malian diplomats to leave Paris. The move came in response to the arrest of a French embassy staff member in Bamako last month.

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.