France has urged its citizens to leave Mali "as soon as possible", after a weekend of co-ordinated attacks by separatist fighters and Islamist militants. Speaking to AFP news agency during a visit to Paris, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said the rebels intended to take control of several other northern towns – Gao, Timbuktu and Menaka – following their success in Kidal. He also called for Russian forces, who have been helping the military government against the rebel groups, to withdraw from "all of Mali" after they agreed to pull out of Kidal on Monday.
The foreign ministry of France, Mali's former colonial power, said: "French nationals are advised to make arrangements to leave Mali temporarily as soon as possible on the commercial flights that are still available." Pending their departure, they should stay at home, limit their movements and follow instructions from local authorities, it said, adding that they should also keep their relatives informed. "Travel to Mali is still strongly discouraged, regardless of the reason." The UK has also advised "against all travel to Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions", and asked its citizens to leave. The US embassy in Mali said it was continuing to "closely monitor" the situation, and told citizens to "shelter in place, remain alert… and avoid areas where security operations may be under way".
Analysis: Why This Matters
Watching how West African evolves is important: international stories tend to set the tone for the news cycle ahead.
Key Takeaways
- Speaking to AFP news agency during a visit to Paris, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said the rebels intended to take control of several other northern towns – Gao, Timbuktu and Menaka – following their success in Kidal.
- On Saturday, fighting was reported in Bamako, Kati, home to a major military base outside the capital, as well as in Gao and Kidal in the north, and the central cities of Sevare and Mopti.
- The spokesperson for one of the rebel groups, the ethnic Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), on Wednesday vowed "the regime will fall, sooner or later".
Expect more international reaction in the coming hours; this story is far from settled.
Source: BBC World
