France suspends military ties with Mali
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France is halting joint military operations with local troops in Mali in a bid to restore a civilian-led government following the second coup in nine months
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KEY RECENT EVENTS

Jun 2020: French forces kill leader of al-Qaeda in Maghreb (AQIM)

Aug: Elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta forced out of office in coup led by Colonel Assimi Goïta

Sep: Retired colonel Bah Ndaw sworn in as interim president – tasked with leading 18-month transition to new elections

Nov: French forces kill senior leader in al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)

May 25, 2021: Col Goïta ousts President Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane after dispute over cabinet reshuffle

May 30-Jun 2: West African regional bloc ECOWAS and African Union suspend Mali’s membership
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250km MAURITANIA 150 miles

French president Emmanuel Macron
Colonel Assimi Goïta

French military bases
France keeps 5,100 soldiers in Sahel region, as part of counter-terrorism mission called Operation Barkhane

SENEGAL
GUINEA
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Mopti
Gao
BURKINA FASO
Bamako
NIGER Niamey
Taoudenni
MALI
ALGERIA
Tessalit
Kidal Timbuktu

Violent events involving jihadist groups, 2020
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Sources: Stratfor, ACLED, AFP
Pictures: Getty Images, AP
© GRAPHIC NEWS