West African defense chiefs will open a two-day meeting Friday to finalize the deployment of a standby force for military assistance and support requested by Mali. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mission would play a support role in Mali, providing logistical and air support to Malian forces working to retake control of […]
West Africa Defense Chiefs to Finalize Mali Assistance Mission
Posted September 13th, 2012 at 5:50 am (UTC-5)
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West Africa Defense Chiefs to Finalize Mali Deployment Plans
Posted September 12th, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
West African defense chiefs will meet Friday to finalize plans to deploy troops in Mali, where Islamist militants control the north. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says the meeting follows an invitation from Mali’s government for the deployment of the troops. A French official reported such a request from Mali’s interim president […]
France Says Mali Requests Military Help to Free North
Posted September 5th, 2012 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
A French official says Mali has formally asked its West African neighbors to help free the country’s north from Islamist militants. France’s special representative for the Sahel region, Jean Felix-Paganon, says Mali is asking West African bloc ECOWAS to send “military assistance to stabilize the country and especially to reconquer the north.” The official told […]
Mali Rebels Told to Cut Ties to ‘Terrorists’
Posted August 8th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
A West African mediator has told rebels in northern Mali they must distance themselves from “terrorists” before any peace talks can start. Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Djibril Bassole, representing the West African bloc ECOWAS, visited northern Mali on Tuesday and met with leaders of the Islamist militant group Ansar Dine in the town of Kidal. […]
ECOWAS Ready to Intervene in Mali
Posted August 1st, 2012 at 11:30 am (UTC-5)
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has renewed its pledge to send troops to Mali to help the government recapture the north from Islamist groups. ECOWAS Commission President Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo said the regional bloc is ready to deploy its standby force to Mali once the country’s interim government makes the request. The […]
Mali Focus of West African Leaders’ Meeting
Posted July 6th, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Several West African leaders meet Saturday to review the situation in Mali and discuss ways of retaking the north from Islamist militants. Malian military officers and political parties have been invited to the meeting, hosted by regional bloc ECOWAS in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. ECOWAS director of external relations, Abdel Fatau Musah, said participants will […]
West African Leaders Discuss Crisis in Mali
Posted June 29th, 2012 at 2:00 am (UTC-5)
West African leaders are meeting Friday to discuss the latest developments in Mali, where recent clashes between Islamist rebels and Tuareg separatists have killed at least 20 people. The extraordinary two-day summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will also focus on ongoing security concerns in Guinea Bissau, another coup-struck country in […]
First Group of West African Troops Arrives in Guinea-Bissau
Posted May 17th, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
About 70 soldiers have arrived in Guinea-Bissau as part of a West African contingent sent to restore order after last month’s coup. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it will send about 600 troops in all to Guinea-Bissau over the coming days. The first troops from Burkina Faso flew into the capital, […]
ECOWAS Threatens New Sanctions on Mali Junta
Posted May 14th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
West African bloc ECOWAS says it will reimpose sanctions on junta leaders in Mali if they block efforts to restore civilian rule. The ECOWAS Commission said Monday it condemns what it called “continued interference with the transition” by junta chief Captain Amadou Sanogo and his allies. On Saturday, two ECOWAS envoys quit talks with the […]
ECOWAS Threatens New Sanctions on Mali Junta
Posted May 14th, 2012 at 8:05 am (UTC-5)
West African bloc ECOWAS says it will reimpose sanctions on junta leaders in Mali if they block efforts to restore civilian rule. The ECOWAS Commission said Monday it condemns what it called “continued interference with the transition” by junta chief Captain Amadou Sanogo and his allies. On Saturday, two ECOWAS envoys quit talks with the […]
