Military Space News
AFRICA NEWS
Army chief ousted in jihadist-torn Mali
Army chief ousted in jihadist-torn Mali
by AFP Staff Writers
Bamako (AFP) Feb 9, 2023
Six senior Malian military officers, including the army chief of staff and head of the national guard, were relieved of their functions on Wednesday, the country's junta-run government said.

The four others are the heads of military security, the gendarmerie police force, military engineers and armed forces' health service, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

The communique gave no reason for the announcement.

The landlocked Sahel state is in the grip of an 11-year-old jihadist insurgency that has ricocheted across the region, killing thousands and forcing millions from their homes.

Mali is run by a military junta that seized power in 2020 and broke a long-standing alliance with France, choosing instead to forge close ties with Russia.

In a separate development on Wednesday, three groups in northern Mali that have a record of clashes with the central government in Bamako signed an agreement to amalgamate.

The groups have until now been components of a predominantly Tuareg alliance called the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).

The three are the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the Upper Council for Azawad Unity (HCUA) and the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA).

They "decided to amalgamate the movements which constitute the CMA into a single political and military entity," they said in a one-page statement.

In 2012, the groups launched an insurrection against the Malian state before signing a peace agreement with it in 2015 that sets the goal of greater regional autonomy and integrating combattants in a reformed arm.

The insurrection was initially joined by jihadist groups that continued their fight after the other rebels signed the peace deal.

Wednesday's announcement comes amid mounting tensions between these northern groups and the junta.

In December, the CMA announced it was suspending participation in mechanisms for implement the 2015 accord, angrily accusing the junta of lacking "the political will" to honour its provisions.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Domestic violence, child marriages soar in drought-hit Ethiopia
Gode , Ethiopia (AFP) Feb 9, 2023
Forced into marriage by her family, 14-year-old Bisharo stayed only five days with her abusive new husband before fleeing his home, fending for herself in drought-stricken southern Ethiopia. Bisharo, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, sought help at a newly opened clinic for survivors of sexual violence at a hospital in Gode, a town in Ethiopia's dust bowl Somali region. It is among the worst-hit areas battered by a ferocious drought in the Horn of Africa that has left millions ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Advanced manufacturing powering development of Next Generation Interceptor

Kremlin keeps mum on missile systems seen on Moscow rooftops

Netherlands set to boost push for Patriot missile defenses in Ukraine

Ukraine forces to receive Patriot air defense training in US: Pentagon

AFRICA NEWS
Final flight of HAWC Program screams through the sky

Ukraine leader says wants long-range missiles, jets from West

Ukraine missile toll rises to 40 as Russia denies attack

Australia buys Ukraine-tested US missile system

AFRICA NEWS
Fire at Latvia factory of US drone supplier to Ukraine

China says it 'regrets' unmanned airship's entry into US airspace

A balloon clouds US view on Xi's China

Iran says Israel oversaw drone attack with Iraq-based Kurd groups 'involved'

AFRICA NEWS
Comtech receives additional funding for US Army Communications

GIT becomes Iridium Certus Service Provider to DoD and other Government customers

Latest milestone brings NTS-3 Vanguard closer to 2023 launch

Viasat managed services contract by US Marine Corps

AFRICA NEWS
US approves $10 bn sale of Himars rocket launchers to Poland

New long-range weapons will not target Russia: Ukraine defence minister

Western allies pledge precision rockets, missile systems to Kyiv

US sending longer-range precision rockets to Ukraine

AFRICA NEWS
Ukraine defence chief says audit underway after corruption scandals

Norway to buy 54 new generation Leopard tanks

India hikes defence budget 13% with an eye on China

US sanctions target Russian arms trader

AFRICA NEWS
Biden warns US will act on China after balloon downing

China balloon, polls scramble script for Biden speech to Congress

Beijing says balloon shot down 'damaged' relations; Confims LatAm balloon from China

Beijing says US media, politicians used balloon incident 'as pretext to smear China'

AFRICA NEWS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.