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Last modification: 09/04/13
War in Mali

France has sent thousands of troops to Mali in an effort to help the government win back control of the north, which was lost to an alliance of Al Qaeda-linked jihadia and Tuareg separatists in 2012. With the Azawad nationalists splitting from the the Islamists and several towns captured, the offensive started well for Bamako and Paris. We follow its progress.

 
News
09/04/2013 - France - Mali

France withdraws first soldiers from Mali

France has withdrawn around 100 soldiers from Mali, the army announced on Tuesday.

06/04/2013 - Mali - France

Al Qaeda denies Sahara chief killed in Mali

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) on Saturday denied a French claim that its leader in the Sahara has been killed in the French-led offensive in northern Mali.

31/03/2013 - Mali

Suicide bombing, jihadi attack in central Timbuktu

Fighting in the historic northern Mali town of Timbuktu this weekend left three Islamist fighters dead and five Malian troops wounded, the Malian army said Sunday.

23/03/2013 - France - Mali - Algeria

France confirms death of Al Qaeda chief Abou Zeid

The French President, François Hollande, has confirmed that Abou Zeid, one of the chiefs of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim), died last month during a French military operation in ...

Malian soldiers stand guard before the arrival of France's President Francois Hollande at Independence Plaza in Bamako, Mali February 2, 2013.
21/03/2013 - France-Mali

France appoints new ambassador to Mali

France appointed a new ambassador to Mali on Thursday, recalling the existing envoy after he reportedly fell out with French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius.

A French soldier walks across an airstrip tarmac at a Malian air base in Gao, March 9, 2013
17/03/2013 - France - Mali

Fifth French soldier killed in Mali

Officials said earlier today that a French corporal was killed while tracking down jihadist fighters in their northern Mali mountain hideout.

13/03/2013 - Mali - France - UN

Malian president plays down UN atrocities accusations

Mali’s interim President Dioncounda Traoré played down a UN report’s charges that his country’s troops had carried out reprisals against some ethnic groups during the ...

11/03/2013 - France - Mali

Three more weeks for French troops to secure northern Mali

The French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, believes it will take another three weeks for French troops to fully secure north-eastern Mali from Islamic militants, and warned there could be ...

09/03/2013 - France - Mali - Burkina Faso

Le Drian declares Mali jihadis 70 per cent wiped out, heads for Ouagadougou

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was to meet Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaoré on Saturday after declaring France’s task in Mali 70 per cent accomplished.

08/03/2013 - Mali - France

Two French Islamist fighters extradited from Mali

A French jihadi fighter was to be extradited from Mali on Friday, according to Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian who said that the man is the second Islamist to be sent to France this week.

07/03/2013 - Mali - France - Chad

French defence minister on surprise visit to north Mali

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited the “last bastions” Islamist militias in northern Mali on a surprise visit Thursday.

06/03/2013 - Mali - France

Fourth French soldier killed in Mali, Sarkozy criticises intervention

A fourth French soldier has been killed in Mali during a reconnaissance mission near the main city in the north, Gao.

05/03/2013 - France - Mali -Chad

Aqim confirms French killed leader in Mali

An Al Qaeda source has confirmed the death in Mali of Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, one of the leaders of Aqim, (al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb).

03/03/2013 - Mali - France

France loses third soldier in Mali

France has lost its third soldier in the Mali conflict.

Mali - France
Dozens of Islamists rounded up in Mali, DNA tests on corpse of possible Aqim leader
Mali Exclusive
Aqim leader condemns destruction of Mali mausoleums in secret papers found by RFI journalist
France - Mali
Fighting in Gao, car bomb in Kidal, Mali conflict continues
Mali - France
Unesco agrees 5.6 million-euro plan to save Mali’s cultural treasures
France - Mali
Al Qaeda group calls for jihad against France over Mali
Mali - France
Two suicide bombers stopped in north Mali after Islamist suicide attack in Gao
Mali - France - United States
France paid millions for Niger hostages who were not freed, ex-US ambassador claims
Mali - France
UN considers French request to take over Mali intervention force
Mali - France
French, Malian troops clash with Islamists around Gao
France - Chad - Mali
1800 Chadian troops arrive to secure Kidal in Mali says France
Mali - France
Slideshow: Mali welcomes Hollande in Timbuktu and Bamako
Mali - France
French warplanes bombard Islamists near Kidal
Mali - France
France's task in Mali not yet over, Hollande declares on Timbuktu visit
A Asongo, au sud de Gao, le 29 janvier 2013.
Mali - France
Hollande given hero's welcome in Timbuktu
Mali - France
Hollande to visit Timbuktu on Saturday
Interview: Mali - France - Côte d'Ivoire
Ecowas troops to operate throughout Mali, Ouattara tells RFI
Nato - Mali -France
Nato rules out Mali role but backs French intervention
Mali - France
Mali's Dioncounda Traoré rules out talks with Islamist Ansar Dine
France - Mali
French troops arrive in Kidal without Malians
Mali
Most Timbuktu manuscripts not destroyed by Islamist flames, academic claims
French troops greeted by the population as they arrive in Timbuktu. 28 January
France - Mali
French and Malian soldiers greeted with joy by people of Timbuktu
Mali - France
Islamists burn priceless manuscripts as French-led troops surround Timbuktu
France - Mali
From here to Timbuktu: French-led forces advance in northern Mali
France - Mali
French and Mali troops seize Gao airport
France - Mali
Al Qaeda-linked group ready to negotiate freeing French hostage in Mali
Mali - France
French, Malian troops take town, head for Gao and Timbuktu
France - Mali
Summary executions may have taken place in Mali offensive, French minister admits
Algeria - France - Mali
Japan wants answers on Algeria gas plant siege
France - Mali - Algeria
Five foreigners still missing, as Algeria hostage-takers threaten to attack France
France - Mali
French unity on Mali begins to crack
France - Mali - EU
French, Malian troops take second town as EU proposes Mali meeting
Mali - France
French, Malian troops enter Diabaly as Islamists head north
France - Mali - Russia - Canada - Germany
French forces advance towards Mali’s north as Russia and Canada offer help
France - Algeria
Reports one of the hostage takers in Algeria may be French
France - Algeria - Mali
French citizen killed in Algerian hostage crisis
France - Mali - Algeria
Malian troops recapture key towns from Islamist rebels
Three attackers (rear R) stand guard in front of foreigners that were taken hostage, while Algerians (L) are left alone at an accommodation unit of the plant at a gas plant in In Amenas, in this photo secretly taken by one of the Algerians held hostage
France - Algeria - Ireland
Frenchman “hid under bed for 40 hours” during Algeria hostage crisis
France - Algeria - United Kingdom - Norway - Japan - Mali
Paris to open inquiry on Algerian gas field hostage crisis
Algeria - Mali - France
Reports of hostage deaths following Algerian army offensive on In Amena gas field
Algeria - Mali - France
Algeria hostage-takers demand release of islamist captives in Mali as exchange
Algeria
Two killed and 41 foreigners kidnapped in Algerian gas field attack
France - Mali
French troops fight Islamist rebels on the ground in Mali
France - Mali
Mali islamists promise revenge strike at 'heart of France'
France - Mali
French fighter jets pound Mali, top Islamist leader reported killed
France - Mali
France suffers first loss in Mali air strikes
France - Somalia
Al Shebab kills French hostage in Somalia, defence ministry says
France - Mali
France will help Mali within UN-agreed limits says Hollande after Traoré appeal
France - Niger - Mali - Nigeria
Al-Qaeda says France is blocking efforts to free hostages in the Sahel
France - Nigeria

Wife of Frenchman kidnapped in Nigeria says her husband was not the intended target

France - Nigeria

Islamist group claims responsibility for kidnapping Frenchman in Nigeria

France - Nigeria

French engineer kidnapped in Nigeria 'by Aqim', says Hollande

Analysis: France - Algeria

Hollande under pressure over France's colonial past on Algeria visit

France - Mali

France calls for new representative government in Mali after Diarra's resignation

France-Mali

Mali PM in France for intervention talks

France - Mali

Mali's islamist Mujao group claims kidnapping of French citizen

France - Mali

Seventh French hostage captured in west Mali

Interview: US - Mali - Ecowas

US Africom ready to consider requests for Mali military support

France - Mali

French troops won't go to Mali, Hollande promises

Mali - Ecowas - France

Hollande pledges support as Ecowas meets to endorse Mali intervention force

France - Mali

African Union readmits Mali, backs plan to defeat armed Islamists in north

Mali - US - France

France to send drones to Mali as jihadists flock to north, report

France - Mali - Algeria

Hollande warns Aqim to free hostages after death threat

Mali - UN - France

No rush to intervene in Mali despite UN resolution

Dossiers
France 24 Dossier (in English)
RFI Dossier (in French)
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War in northern Mali
Click to enlarge
War in northern Mali
Syndicate contentInterviews and reports
Polisario denies Islamist fighters in Sahara refugee camps
19/04/2013 - African news explained
Polisario denies Islamist fighters in Sahara refugee camps
French intervention in northern Mali enters fourth month
11/04/2013 - African news explained
French intervention in northern Mali enters fourth month
French group lobbies for change in Mali's adoption law
10/04/2013 - On-the-spot France
French group lobbies for change in Mali's adoption law
Mali campaigners want anti-slavery law
30/03/2013 - African news explained
Mali campaigners want anti-slavery law
Is Philippe Verdon dead?
21/03/2013 - African news explained
Is Philippe Verdon dead?
Mali releases journalist Boukary Daou
16/03/2013 - African Media
Mali releases journalist Boukary Daou
Sahel Sounds
10/03/2013 - World music matters
Sahel Sounds
Washington's Pelletier explains US aims in west Africa
09/03/2013 - African news explained
Washington's Pelletier explains US aims in west Africa
Are Islamist militants Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Abou Zeid dead?
04/03/2013 - African news explained
Are Islamist militants Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Abou Zeid dead?
Digital Azawad in Sahel art show
17/02/2013 - Culture in France
Digital Azawad in Sahel art show
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