🇲🇱 Mali rebels claim control of northern military camp

Tuareg rebels in northern Mali said on Tuesday that they had seized control of a military camp in the town of Bourem, a further sign of the unravelling of a 2015 peace accord that had kept fighting between the rebels and the army at bay.

A rebel alliance called the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) has been fighting the army since August.

Clashes appear to be intensifying as both sides seek to control territory in areas recently vacated by the U.N. Bourem is just 90 km north of the strategic city of Gao.

"I confirm the CMA took control of the camp around 10 a.m. after very violent fighting," said CMA spokesperson. He said there had been casualties but that he did not yet know the death toll.

#Mali

@africaintel

🇮🇶🇮🇷Iraq starts relocating Kurdish groups away from the border with Iran


Iraq has started relocating Kurdish groups to campsites far from the Iran border as part of a security agreement that was reached between the two countries back in March, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced.

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🇲🇽 AMLO proposes 81% increase to armed forces’s budget

Mexico’s armed forces are set to see an 81% increase under the Finance Ministry’s proposed budget for 2024.

The largest increase will go to the Defense Ministry, with an allocation of 259.4 billion pesos ($15 billion) that more than doubles the 111.9 billion pesos that was approved for 2023 for the department. Next up is the Navy, with a 72% increase to its budget that takes it to 71.8 billion pesos ($4.2 billion), according to a draft submitted Friday and that is pending congressional approval.

The budget proposal is the latest indication of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s increasing reliance on armed forces to carry out large infrastructure works and also tasks that used to be run by civilians.

The Defense Ministry’s proposed budget includes work on the Maya Train and operating Lopez Obrador’s new state-owned airline, Mexicana. It also includes operating the Felipe Angeles airport near Mexico City.

🔎 Source
#Mexico

☠️ Blood Meridian

❗️Germany has become the latest EU country to block Ukrainian Government demands for extradition and mobilisation of Ukrainian men hiding in Germany.