Norway closes Mali embassy for West African security concerns

Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said Thursday the embassy in Mali’s capital of Bamako will close by the end of 2023. That announcement came the day after Russia vetoed a United Nations renewal of sanctions that involved monitoring human rights and violence in junta-ruled Mali. Independent monitors earlier this month reported to the UN that Mali troops committed “grave human rights abuses.” The report believed forces from the Russian mercenary Wagner Group were involved in the violence.

Will other countries begin closing embassies? Mali is one of seven West African countries to mount a coup d’etat on elected government in the last two years. Southwestern country Gabon announced a coup on Wednesday. The growing instability has also allowed Islamic terror groups to increase their regional presence and pose additional safety threats.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Dunn’s report in WORLD Magazine on how increased violence has disrupted West African classrooms.