The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued a formal protest to the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after Ibrahim Moustapha, a correspondent for Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, entered Mali without authorization. According to a statement released this week, the journalist operated in northern Mali without proper accreditation and is suspected of collaborating with armed terrorist groups—a claim that has yet to be publicly addressed by the involved media outlets or Riyad.
Reporting from Kidal, a city beyond state control
Kidal, along with other northern cities like Tessalit, Aguelhoc, and Hombori, has fallen under rebel control following coordinated offensives by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in late April and early May. The withdrawal of Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and their Russian allies from Kidal in April 2026, as part of a negotiated agreement, left the region outside Bamako jurisdiction.
The Malian government dismissed the journalist’s reports as « fabricated and baseless », accusing him of attempting to undermine the credibility of the country’s defense and security forces. Bamako also condemned what it described as a serious breach of journalistic ethics.
Strained ties amid a long-standing partnership
The protest underscores growing tensions between Mali and Saudi Arabia, whose state-owned MBC Group owns the two implicated news channels. The Malian ministry emphasized that such actions by media from a « historically close and friendly nation » could « damage bilateral relations ». This warning carries weight given Saudi Arabia’s long-standing role as a discreet financial backer of Mali, including investments in religious and cultural infrastructure, as well as the countries’ shared membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that no violations of Mali‘s sovereignty or territorial integrity would be tolerated, noting that the alleged offenses could lead to legal consequences under Malian law. As of now, no official response has been issued by Riyad.
