Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Russia and China have blocked the United Nations Security Council from supporting a decision by the West African economic bloc ECOWAS to impose new sanctions on Mali, after its military leaders proposed staying in power for up to five years before staging elections. Three African council members, Kenya, Ghana and Gabon, spoke to reporters to back the regional bloc's position. France, Mali's former colonial power, and the United States have also expressed support for the ECOWAS sanctions. ECOWAS has taken strong actions to end the crisis in Mali, and the US, US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Algeria have called on the military to negotiate with ECOWAS. China has expressed support for Mali's military government, while Russia has rejected the proposed council statement as unbalanced and expressed sympathy to the government. France has condemned the deployment of mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group, and expressed regret that Mali's transitional authorities are unable to restore government control in many parts of the country.