(3 minutes read)
· People are protesting in Mali against French military
presence in Bamako. They are calling for the total withdrawal of French troops from the country
· Some of the protesters waved Russian flags and displayed banners urging greater cooperation between Mali and Russia
· Germany’s defense minister announced recently that 12 German troops and a soldier from another country were wounded following an attack on soldiers taking part in a United Nations mission in Mali
People are protesting in Mali against French military presence in Bamako. They are calling for the total withdrawal of French troops from the country. Some of the protesters waved Russian flags and displayed banners urging greater cooperation between Mali and Russia.
The subdued demonstration was organized by political fringe group ‘Yerewolo Debouts sur les remparts’ and did not create much disturbances in the civic life. The number of people participated in the demonstration was much lesser than expected. Heavy rains disrupted the demonstration, which was initially planned as a major event.
Germany’s defense minister announced recently that 12 German troops and a soldier from another country were wounded following an attack on soldiers taking part in a United Nations mission in Mali. Germany has hundreds of troops taking part in U.N. stabilization and European Union training missions in the West African nation.
Mali has been trying to contain an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012, the root cause of these disturbances. A military coup last year in Mali worsened matters further, and the junta’s leaders have faced criticism from France and the Africa. Some countries including France had imposed sanctions on the West African country.