MALI MILITARY GOVT BANS FREENCH_ FUNDED NGOS

The military  government in Mali banned all Non_ Governmental Organisations,NGOs that are funded or supported by France from operating in the country.   Report says humanitarian groups are included in the ban.

In a statement,the junta said the move followed France' s decision to stop development aid over Bamako' s alleged use of paramilitaries from the Russian Wagner group.

Mali' s interim prime minister colonel Abdoulaye Maiga denied those allegations,saying they were aimed a destabilizing the country.  However, he said the Russians were working as instructors.  Three months ago Paris withdrew French working with Mali to counter jihadist groups.