Mali’s foreign ministry has demanded that Sweden’s ambassador to Bamako leave the country within 72 hours, following what it described as a “hostile” comment from a Swedish official. The directive came after Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation and Trade announced that the country would begin reducing its aid to Mali.
The Swedish foreign ministry has yet to issue a response. This diplomatic tension arises as Mali, along with Niger and Burkina Faso, strengthens its relationship with Russia, moving away from previous ties with former colonial power France, regional leader Nigeria, and the United States.