On Wednesday, the West African bloc ECOWAS strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks that struck Mali’s capital, Bamako, the day before. This comes as the Malian junta has announced its intention to withdraw from the regional organisation.
In a statement, the Economic Community of West African States reaffirmed its stance against any terrorist actions that threaten the peace and security of people in the region and expressed its strong commitment to supporting any initiatives that promote peace.
Bamako experienced a deadly assault on Tuesday, claimed by a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda. Typically, the capital has been shielded from the kind of violence that plagues other areas of Mali.
Details regarding the casualties from the attack on a military police training centre and the airport have yet to be disclosed.
Since 2012, Mali, under military rule following coups in 2020 and 2021, has faced challenges from various factions connected to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
The junta severed ties with ECOWAS in January, alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, with the three military-led nations accusing the bloc of failing to provide adequate support in their fight against insurgencies and of being overly influenced by former colonial power France.