Mali | GlobalPost

France beefs up Africa, Middle East embassy security

Thomson ReutersMay 22, 2013 09:45

PARIS (Reuters) - France will invest about 20 million euros ($25 million) to increase security for diplomats and embassies in the Middle East and Africa after its mission in Libya was targeted by a car bomb in April, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Spokesman Philippe Lalliot confirmed an email sent by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to staff on Tuesday saying the measure had to be taken following the rising number of serious international crises and threats emanating from them.

French first lady tells of 'huge' feelings for Mali

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 17:45

France's first lady Valerie Trierweiler said at the end of a 48-hour tour of war-torn Mali on Friday that the experience had brought up "huge" feelings in her. President Francois Hollande's partner, in the former French colony as "part of a mission for children and women", has visited hospital patients and school children, highlighting the important role of female soldiers in securing peace. "I'll never forget (this trip) because what I felt was truly huge," she told a press conference before returning to Paris on Friday night.

Mali's coup leader rejects Benin asylum offer

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 17:45

Aides of Mali's former junta chief Captain Amadou Sanogo rejected an offer of asylum made on Friday by the west African nation of Benin. Benin's Foreign Minister Nassirou Arifari Bako said his country was extending its hand to Sanogo "in its search for peace and to assist in the democratisation process of that country". "We categorically reject the offer of exile. Why should he go into exile? It's out of the question. He will remain in Mali," said Makan Konate, president of Mali's Group of Patriots (COPO), a coalition of organisations supporting the former junta.

Canada adds $75 million to growing pot of international donations for Mali

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 14:40

OTTAWA - Canada has added another $75 million to the international kitty to restore stability in Mali. The money will be allocated through a variety of international agencies for programs related to food security, nutrition, immunization and access to basic health and educational services. Canada's pledge comes as international donors meet this week in Belgium to chart a way forward for the west African country as it emerges from crisis.

Donors pledge 3.2 bn euros for Mali

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 13:54

International donors pledged a much more than expected 3.25 billion euros in aid Wednesday to help Mali recover after Islamist rebels nearly overran the troubled county, French President Francois Hollande said. The meeting, co-hosted by the EU and France, Mali's former colonial ruler, had an initial target of 2.0 billion euros ($2.6 billion) to cover about half the cost of a 2013-14 economic and political reconstruction programme agreed with the international community. jri/bmm/ric

Mali aid meet opens with pledge to avoid past mistakes

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 08:46

International donors pledged Wednesday to help all sides in Mali avoid the mistakes of the past which led to crisis and war as they put together an aid package worth two billion euros ($2.6 billion). French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the meeting that everyone "had to look at the causes of the crisis" which saw the country lose its north to Islamist rebels and France intervene militarily. "The war is being won. Now we have to secure the peace," Fabius said, stressing the need for unity in a new Mali for all Malians, north and south.

Mali president pledges polls as EU, France gather donors

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 01:00

Mali's president pledged Tuesday that July elections, a key goal of the troubled country's backers, will go ahead as he prepared for a donors conference meant to help Bamako move on from war and a two-year political crisis. "We will do everything so that the elections can begin on July 28," Traore said in Brussels, adding: "Failure to hold the elections would cause even more problems."

France says Mali conference aims to raise 1.9 bn euros

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 13:30

A donor conference on Mali will on Wednesday seek to raise 1.9 billion euros to repair the damage caused by the war against Islamists, France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. "The aim is to find nearly 1.9 billion euros ($2.4 billion). Things are going well and there will be about 100 countries attending, as well as a dozen heads of state," Fabius told RTL radio of the conference due to open in Brussels. "Security is largely in place," he said. "Now the need is for democracy, dialogue and development, and these go together. And for that, we need money."

EU, France gather Mali donors

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 09:01

The EU and France will gather international donors Wednesday to drum up aid and support for Mali as it seeks to move on from a war against hardline Islamists and end a two-year old political crisis. "The aim is to find nearly 1.9 billion euros ($2.4 billion)," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Tuesday. "Security is largely in place ... now the need is for democracy, dialogue and development, and these go together. And for that, we need money," Fabius told RTL Radio.

Pan-Muslim body urges generous aid for Mali

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 10:30

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday urged its member states to make generous contributions at this week's donors conference on Mali to be held in Brussels. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, OIC Secretary General, launched the appeal at the opening of a ministerial meeting in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah. Romano Prodi, the UN special envoy for the Sahel, attended the meeting which was held to discuss logistic and financial assistance to Mali, an OIC member, ahead of Wednesday's main donors meet.