Can the west african country break a cycle of instability?
The question of a military intervention in Mali is a hot topic at this week's UN General Assembly. Mali was profoundly destabilized by the coup which toppled their president in March, and insecurity in the region is making things worse. It's now time for coordinated, international action.
Dioncounda Traore, the interim president of Mali, requests ECOWAS military assistance: logistics, training, equipment, aerial support - but no ground troops.
As the crisis in Mali takes root, ECOWAS meets with a rebel leader in northern Mali to open dialogue and begin the process of negotiating a peaceful solution.
Islamist and al Qaeda inspired rebels are in control of an increasingly large swath of territory in Northern Mali In a glimpse of what may be in store for people unfortunate enough to live in areas under control of these groups, a couple was stoned to death for having sex outside marriage.
The March 2012 coup in Mali has made the security situation worse, deepened the crisis in the north, and created massive displacement. What are the short term prospects?
A new ECOWAS-mediated agreement allows the interim president, Dioncounda Traoré, to remain in office for the next 12 months, until a presidential election can be organized next year. Not everyone in Mali is pleased with this decision.
We don't know how the Mali coup will end. But because of ECOWAS, I predict it will end badly for the putschists.
Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in Abudja, Cote D'Ivoire today to issue Laurent Gbagbo an ultimatum: Step aside or be forced out.