Political situation in Mali

Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt. Annika Byrde / NTB 

 

Political situation in Mali  

Instability causes Norway to close its embassy in Mali  

 

Norway closes its embassy in Mali's capital Bamako due to the security situation. Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt announces this. 

 

- Since the two military coups in 2020 and 2021, the political situation in Mali has been unstable, says Huitfeldt.  

 

Most recently, Mali's military government has forced out peacekeeping forces, including the UN's Minusma operation, which is due to end before the end of the year.  

 

Huitfeldt says that Norway now needs to find other ways to contribute to stabilization and conflict resolution in the Sahel region, because the need is great. 

 

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Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia. John Minchillo / AP  

 

Russian veto against UN in Mali after Wagner designation 

 

Russia's UN ambassador Vasiliy Nebenzia vetoed the UN Security Council's vote yesterday on extended sanctions against Mali and the ruling military junta. That's what international news agencies write. 

 

The veto also prevents a UN panel of experts from continuing to be present in the violence-ravaged country. The panel has accused the Wagner group of being behind violence against civilians in Mali, and Western countries on the council say the Russian veto is revenge for the designation. 

 

According to US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood, Russia is "trying to stop the publication of inconvenient truths about the actions of the Wagner group in Mali". 

 

Russia has gained increasing influence in Mali after two military coups in 2020 and 2021.