After cessation of development aid: Mali bans French NGOs Iran reports renewed attacks on Kurdish bases in northern Iraq

Interim Prime Minister Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga told the online networks on Monday that the ban was in response to France’s recent suspension of development aid to Mali. The ban is effective immediately and applies to all NGOs that have received funding from France or material and technical support – also in the humanitarian field, Maiga added.

France announced last week that it would end development aid to Mali. However, it was said that humanitarian aid and support from some Malian civil society organizations should continue. Paris thereby justified the freezing of development cooperation that the ruling military junta resorts to the notorious Russian mercenary group Wagner, who are believed to be close to the Kremlin.

Bamako rejects this, admitting only the support of “trainers” of the Russian army. Maiga said the allegations were “fictitious” and deception “designed to mislead and manipulate national and international public opinion with the aim of destabilizing and isolating Mali”.

Cooperation between Western countries and the government in Bamako has deteriorated significantly since the August 2020 military coup. Due to disagreements with the military junta, France ended its military operation there in Barkhane in August this year after nine years. Up to 5,500 French soldiers were involved in the operation to fight Islamist groups in the Sahel. (sda/afp)