Mali

The announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron will end nearly a decade of fighting Islamic extremists in the West African country.

Facing a pandemic lockdown, huge political upheavals and ongoing uncertainty about the future, musicians including Oumou Sangare and Songhoy Blues offer lessons in creativity and optimism.

Soldiers reportedly detain President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after surrounding his residence following months of protests in the West African nation.

One of West Africa's best-known musicians, Ballaké Sissoko, says that his kora was dismantled by TSA agents while he was traveling from New York to Paris. The agency denies it was involved.

It's believed to be the highest single loss for the French military since 1983. "These 13 heroes had only one goal: to protect us," French President Emmanuel Macron said.

It's the latest in a spate of deadly attacks in a region that has seen escalating tensions between ethnic groups. The U.N. says a group of armed men poured into the village Sunday evening.

The country is still recovering from an Islamist insurgency in 2012, NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports. An attack in a central town killed 17 soldiers Tuesday.

NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Malian student Assoumane Maiga about the situation in his country after the deadly hotel attack last Friday. Maiga's wife…

The family of Anita Datar of Maryland, an international development worker, confirms she died in the terrorist assault. Malian officials say at least 19 people were killed, along with two gunmen.