Copy Paste Quotes

Curfews, conspiracy theories … and a cancelled concert: Mali’s capital tries to shrug off violence on its doorstep

Since 2012, Mali has faced a security crisis fuelled by violence from groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State

“The Grand Ball of Bamako,” as organisers tagged the Saturday evening soiree at the Hotel de l’Amitié in the Malian capital, was meant to provide one of the west African country’s biggest headlines last weekend.

Many sponsors including Orange Mali, the local subsidiary of the French telecoms company, had bankrolled the show, which organisers hoped would demonstrate Mali’s capacity to put on big cultural events in the teeth of a security crisis raging on multiple fronts. On the eve of the concert, a convoy of over half a dozen cars picked up the main attraction, GrammyAward-winning Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, from the Modibo Keita international airport.

Continue reading...

Apr 30, 2026 Mali Africa World news

Need the full article?

Use the dedicated news page for the summary, then jump straight to the original source when you want the complete story.