Denmark Closes Embassies in Mali and Burkina Faso Amid Security Concerns and Political Turmoil
Denmark has announced the closure of its embassies in Mali and Burkina Faso in response to military coups that have disrupted diplomatic relations and limited the nation’s engagement in the Sahel region. Since the seizures of power in Mali in 2020 and Burkina Faso in 2022, both nations have increasingly turned towards Russia and the Wagner Group for support. The Danish government expressed that the recent political developments have considerably restricted its ability to operate effectively in the area.
In light of these closures in Bamako and Ouagadougou, Denmark will appoint a special representative tasked with focusing on the African Great Lakes and Sahel regions. The deterioration of diplomatic relations, particularly with European countries, is exemplified by Mali’s recent expulsion of the Swedish ambassador following a minister’s criticism of Malian ties with Russia. A Danish official stated the necessity for African nations to recognize Europe as a viable partner in their future development, particularly in counteracting growing Chinese and Russian influences on the continent.
The new Danish strategy will center on enhancing trade relations and undertaking water initiatives, with commitments to allocate one billion kroner (approximately 150 million USD) in development aid for bilateral water projects in Africa within the next several years. For 2025 alone, 425 million kroner has been earmarked.
Simultaneously, grave security challenges persist in Burkina Faso, where at least one hundred individuals—civilians and soldiers alike—were reportedly killed during a recent attack by al-Qaeda-linked militants on a village in the central region. The incident, described as one of the deadliest this year, occurred in Barsalogho, approximately eighty kilometers from Ouagadougou. During this assault, villagers were engaged in defensive preparations, assisting security forces when they came under fire from the JNIM group, a faction aligned with al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda later claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting it had taken control of a militia position. The Burkina Faso government responded by launching both ground and aerial operations to counter the violence and has vowed to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to those affected. The security minister emphasized the government’s commitment to combating such brutality and safeguarding the populace.
Despite promises made by the military junta to end the persistent violence that has led to two coups in recent years, the situation remains precarious. The junta, under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traore, has been encouraging civilian involvement in security efforts, as evidenced by the establishment of a civilian task force known as the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP), which collaborates with military operations. However, the effectiveness of these measures is undermined by insufficient air cover, inadequate intelligence, and regional instability exacerbated by ongoing conflicts in Mali and Niger, which are similarly plagued by jihadi activities. The human rights violations perpetrated by state security forces and the VDP have further contributed to the radicalization of vulnerable populations.
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