The following report highlights major news developments in politics and security in Mali. The report focuses on Mali demanding a quick departure of French troops from its territory and the military departure seen as a new dawn for Mali. On the security front, the Malian authorities described the French counterterrorism effort as a failure, the Army said it killed 208 terrorists, a UN expert noting an improvement on the security front, and a report saying that insurgents killed about 40 people in the north. This report includes background information to add context where needed.
