The looming anniversary of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's ouster sees a country mired in problems.
AFP/Ousmane Makaveli
On Monday, Mali's long-standing ally France packed its bags, withdrawing the last of its troops after falling out with the junta.On taking power, the junta appointed military officers to key government jobs, installed a parliament, arrested political heavyweights under an anti-corruption probe and issued arrest warrants for those who had left the country.
Since then, jihadist attacks have continued and recently accelerated. More people were killed in the Sahel in the first six months of 2022 than the whole of 2021. Airpower: A French military transport plane and combat helicopter at Gao in December 2021. France announced on Monday that it had vacated the base, its last in MaliThe former colonial power France, which these days is accused of meddling and acting out of self-interest, has been sidelined.