Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop rules out dialogue with terrorist groups, denounces state sponsors of terrorism
via Lefaso.net6 min read
Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, met with the diplomatic corps in Bamako on May 7, 2026, to discuss the security situation and national news, following terrorist attacks on April 25. Diop expressed gratitude for international solidarity and condemned the "complex" attacks, which he attributed to state sponsors and hybrid actors. He praised the Malian defense and security forces and the support from AES Confederation forces for thwarting what he called an attempt to destabilize Malian institutions, noting that the attacks also targeted the home of Transition President General Assimi Goïta. The Minister criticized what he termed "variable geometry condemnations" from some international organizations, NGOs, and media outlets, accusing them of participating in disinformation campaigns and the "whitewashing" of terrorist groups. He lauded the resilience of the Malian people and honored General Sadio Camara. Diop affirmed that Malian authorities have strengthened defense measures and reorganized military operations to secure the entire national territory, its population, and diplomatic representations. He also reassured about efforts to maintain the supply of essential goods and ensure service continuity. Diop emphasized that no adversity, including terrorism, blackmail, media campaigns, or geopolitical hostilities, would deter Mali's pursuit of peace, security, dignity, sovereignty, and shared prosperity. He stated that the Malian s
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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently made remarks about Neymar, suggesting the player is "teleworking" and implying he is selected based on popularity rather than talent. Lula, who previously served as president from 2003 to 2011 and again since 2023, also attempted to influence coach Carlo Ancelotti regarding player selection. These comments are seen as a veiled criticism of Neymar, who is popular on social media but has faced political opposition from Lula due to his support for Jair Bolsonaro in past elections. The article notes that Neymar was injured and in recovery, and that his political choices should not preclude him from playing football. Separately, Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly of Senegal, commented on the upcoming France-Senegal match. He predicted a win for Senegal but added a "political comment" that regardless of the winner, "Africa wins." This statement refers to the African origins of some French players, which the article argues dismisses their French nationality and their conscious decision to play for France. The author compares Sonko's stance to that of far-right French politicians like Éric Zemmour, who question the Frenchness of the national team. The article highlights that many national teams, including Senegal and Morocco, feature numerous players born outside their respective countries, emphasizing that the ability for players to represent a country other than their birthplace enhances the World Cup. France, in
Must ReadForeign ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States AES met in Bamako on June 20, 2026, to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening joint diplomatic action among the three member states. The meeting, presided over by Burkina Faso's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, included Mali's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Diop, and Niger's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Yaou Sangaré. Discussions focused on progress in diplomacy and defining new directions to enhance the Confederation's international presence and influence. The ministers adopted measures to consolidate diplomatic coordination, agreeing to reinforce consultation mechanisms to present common positions on regional and international issues. They also validated actions to diversify and deepen AES's international partnerships. The foreign ministers praised the dialogue framework within the Confederation for harmonizing positions on common interests and encouraged diplomatic and consular missions of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to strengthen on-the-ground coordination. They continued discussions on establishing a confederal diplomatic map, instructing senior officials to continue technical work. Preparations for the 81st ordinary session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026 in New York were also addressed, with ministers agreeing to maintain close synergy to defend common interests. They highlighted the ratification and entry into force of several confederal legal in
The Center of Interdisciplinary Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Development CITADEL launched its third AI Summer School in Ouagadougou on June 22, 2026. For one week, 30 students and doctoral candidates will receive training in AI fundamentals before participating in a hackathon to solve local challenges. The initiative aims to equip Burkina Faso and Africa with the skills to participate in the digital revolution. Professor Antoine Béré, President of Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, presided over the opening ceremony, emphasizing that Africa must not be marginalized in AI development, as it is a powerful engine for economic and social transformation in sectors like health, agriculture, and education. He highlighted the importance of developing local solutions adapted to African realities. Rodrigue Kafando, a researcher at the Virtual University of Burkina Faso and CITADEL, stated that the center, established through a project won by Burkina Faso, focuses on training local talent to address continental challenges. The program includes theoretical training in data processing, textual data analysis, machine learning, deep learning, and AI model design, followed by a two-day hackathon. Participants, including medical doctor Ariel Shadrac Ouédraogo, come from diverse backgrounds, reflecting AI's transversal nature. The theme for this year is "Artificial Intelligence, innovation and digital sovereignty in Africa." CITADEL has already trained about a hundred AI engineers, contr