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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.

Court throws out case against Malian editor

Agence France-PresseApril 30, 2013 07:15
A Malian newspaper editor detained for nearly a month after publishing an open letter from disgruntled soldiers was freed Tuesday after the case was declared "null and void". Boukary Daou spent a month in jail after being arrested in March and charged with "incitement to disobedience" over the letter objecting to the salary earned by Captain Amadou Sanogo, leader of a coup that ousted Mali's government. Daou's lawyer Hamidou Diabate said the court "found that the case against my client was zero. So, no trial, no conviction -- my client is free."

Judgement delayed on Malian journalist

April 16, 2013 11:31
A Malian newspaper editor detained for nearly a month after publishing an open letter from disgruntled soldiers appeared Tuesday before a magistrate who delayed judgement against him for a week. Boukary Daou was taken into custody on March 6 and charged with "incitement to disobedience" over the letter objecting to the salary earned by Captain Amadou Sanogo, leader of a coup that ousted Mali's government last year.

Judgement delayed on Malian journalist

April 16, 2013 11:16
A Malian newspaper editor detained for nearly a month after publishing an open letter from disgruntled soldiers appeared before a magistrate on Monday who delayed judgement against him for a week. Boukary Daou was taken into custody on March 6 and charged with "incitement to disobedience" over the letter objecting to the salary earned by Captain Amadou Sanogo, leader of a coup that ousted Mali's government last year.

Ex-diplomat to head Mali reconciliation commission

March 30, 2013 22:01
Mali's interim president on Saturday appointed a former government minister and retired ambassador to head a new commission tasked with fostering reconciliation in the conflict-torn west African nation. Interim leader Dioncounda Traore named Mohamed Salia Sokona to chair the recently created Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission (DRC). Sokona was armed forces minister from 1997 to 2000 and Mali's ambassador to Burkina Faso and Niger from 2000 to 2003, then to France until 2010.

France appoints new envoy to conflict-torn Mali

March 21, 2013 09:16
France on Thursday appointed a new ambassador to Mali, the foreign ministry said, amid a French-backed military intervention against Islamist rebels in the west African nation. Gilles Huberson will replace Christian Rouyer, foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said, adding that it was in the framework of a routine reshuffle of French diplomatic posts in Africa.

France recalls Mali ambassador: diplomatic source

March 21, 2013 07:16
France has recalled its ambassador to Mali after he reportedly fell out with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, a diplomatic source in the west African nation told AFP on Thursday. Christian Rouyer, an outspoken advocate for the French military intervention to drive Islamist militants from northern Mali, had been in the role since 2011 but was said to be in disagreement with Fabius. "We have just learned that the French ambassador in Bamako was recalled by his country before the end of his mission," the source said.

Mali media to continue strike over journalist jailing

March 19, 2013 14:02
Mali's media announced on Tuesday they would continue a boycott of government coverage in protest over the detention of a journalist who published a letter criticising the former military junta chief. Boukary Daou was remanded in custody Monday and charged with "incitement to disobedience" after publishing an open letter criticising the salary earned by Captain Amadou Sanogo, leader of a coup that ousted Mali's government last year.

Mali media to strike over journalist's arrest

March 11, 2013 11:00
Mali's media announced on Monday the launch of a nationwide strike to protest against the arrest of a reporter by the war-torn country's intelligence services. The journalists agreed at their general assembly to shut down until the release of Boukary Daou, the editor of the Republican daily newspaper who was detained last week in the capital Bamako, they said. "We decided at the end of our meeting not to publish and not to broadcast over the airwaves until the release of our detained colleague," said Sambi Toure, publisher of Bamako's Info Matin newspaper.

Mali to hold presidential vote in July: PM office

March 1, 2013 18:00
The presidential election meant to haul Mali out of crisis will take place in July, the prime minister's chief of staff said Friday, without giving a precise date. "Measures have been taken to respect the deadline," Boubacar Sow, chief of staff for Prime Minister Diango Cissoko, told AFP, a month after interim president Dioncounda Traore promised a vote by July 31. "The security situation on the ground, a return to government in the north and of refugees and displaced residents are the prerequisites for which we are trying to find quick solutions," Sow said.
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