Mali degrades diplomatic ties with Sweden

Mali ordered the Swedish ambassador to leave within 72 hours following a "hostile" statement by Sweden's minister for international development, Johan Forssell. The Swedish government had recently decided to phase out aid to Mali, citing Mali's support for Russia's war against Ukraine. This diplomatic move highlights Mali's shift away from traditional Western allies toward closer ties with Russia. The situation is part of a broader geopolitical shift in the Sahel region, where military-led states like Mali are reorienting their alliances.