African Union Warns of Growing Insecurity in Mali

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Expressing concern over the growing insecurity in Mali, the African Union has called for urgent action and increased intelligence cooperation to confront terrorist groups operating in the country, according to Reuters.

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the head of the African Union Commission, said in a statement that since September, al-Qaeda-linked groups have disrupted people's lives by preventing them from accessing basic necessities, including fuel. This situation has led to the closure of schools and businesses, especially in Bamako.

Al-Qaeda-linked groups have increased their attacks in recent weeks. One of these groups, the GNIM group, claimed on Monday that it had killed 48 Malian soldiers and wounded more than 100 others in an attack on a military post in the north of Timbuktu. The Malian army has not yet commented on the claim.

The African Union also called for the immediate release of 3 Egyptian nationals recently kidnapped by armed elements. The groups have previously been reported to be using the kidnapping of foreigners to raise funds, with around $50 million paid in one case for the release of 2 Emirati nationals.

The African Union suspended Mali in 2021 after a military coup. The country, along with Niger and Burkina Faso, has also withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and is increasingly reliant on military cooperation with Russia.