Relations between France and Mali have continued to deteriorate, with the west African country accusing its former colonial power of supplying arms and intelligence to anti-government militants.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop says France has violated its airspace on multiple occasions and delivered arms to Islamist fighters in an attempt to destabilise his country.

France categorically rejects the accusations.

Relations between the two countries have broken down following two coups and a decision by Mali’s military rulers to work closely with mercenaries from Russia.

Source: BBC Africa