Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa.

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Mali on Friday ordered the Ambassador of Sweden in Bamako to leave the west African nation within 72 hours after “hostile” remarks made by a Swedish minister. The junta-ruled government said Kristina Kuhnel, Sweden’s ambassador to Bamako, was summoned and expelled after Johan Forssell, minister for International Development, Cooperation and Trade, said on August 7 that Stockholm  would discontinue aid to Mali due to its relations with Russia. Forssell said on social media platform X: “You can’t support Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and at the same time receive several hundred million kronor each year in development aid.  Forssell made the comments after Mali announced it was cutting ties with Ukraine after a military official suggested Kyiv had played a role in deadly fighting near the Algerian border last month. Tuareg rebels claimed to have killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers in the fighting.  Ukraine’s foreign ministry said there was no evidence Kyiv had played any role in fighting.  Mali, along with Niger and Burkina Faso, announced in January they were quitting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an organisation they accused of being manipulated by France, their former colonial ruler.  The three nations severed all military links with France and turned to Russia for  support.  Niger also cut ties with Ukraine last week in solidarity with Mali.