Mali on Thursday announced the militarisation of the police, as it seeks to quell a decade-old jihadist insurgency.

"Civil servants of the national police and civilian protection are now governed by the general statute of the military," the country's official journal said.

The junta-led government had justified the move because it would "allow the deployment of national police in areas retaken by the army in order to ensure the security of the population and their belongings and prevent the forces of evil from returning", apparently referring to jihadists and rebels.

Mali has been ruled by a military junta since 2020.

The National Transition Council (CNT) -- a legislature appointed by the junta to approve laws pending a declared return to civilian rule -- passed the law to equip security forces with military equipment a week ago.

Before the vote, police unions had criticised what they called a "unilateral" decision.

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