The following report highlights major news developments in politics and security in Mali on 21 February. The report focuses on the National Transitional Council adopting a new charter for the transition, AU and ECOWAS envoys arriving in Mali, and thousands of Malians taking to the streets to celebrate France’s departure. On the economic front, Mali is suing the ECOWAS over the 9 January sanctions, while Senegalese transporters are lamenting losses in billions of CFA due to the closure of the Malian border. On the security front, the army said that it killed 57 terrorists on 18 February in the northern locality of Tessit. The report includes background information to add context where needed.
