France and allied European countries are withdrawing [15] their military forces from Mali after diplomatic relations broke down with the ruling junta that came to power in last year's coup d'etat [16]. The junta has meanwhile reportedly welcomed in hundreds of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group [17]. The diplomatic crisis has overshadowed a worsening humanitarian emergency that has seen severe hunger hit the highest level since 2013, when the seizure of large parts of the country by jihadist rebels prompted the French intervention [18]. Over 350,000 people have now fled violence linked to jihadist groups aligned to al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State—a nearly 70% increase from early 2020.
Conflict is especially severe in northern Mali, where jihadists have killed dozens [21] of civilians in recent weeks. Foreboding a further widening of the conflict, former Tuareg separatist rebels have grown increasingly impatient with the junta, which they accuse of failing to implement a 2015 peace agreement [22] respecting their autonomy. (The New Humanitarian [19])
