Mali lifts state of emergency

Mali’s state of emergency which was extended in December last year has been lifted.

The state of emergency was initially imposed after a deadly jihadist attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel Bamako in November last year killed at least 19 people.

#Mali ends its state of emergency despite ongoing Islamist threat https://t.co/h7fyx9HsjH SusannaWing

— Seán Smith (SeDanSmith) April 2, 2016

But the government in December requested for a three-month extension (to March 31 2016), – which was approved by the National Assembly – saying there was “serious threats to the security of persons and their property.”

The Malian government has however asked the public to remain calm as it works to counter any terrorist threats to the country.

Malian Interior Ministry officials have dismissed suggestions that the suspension of the state of emergency was due to the absence of terrorist threats.

Security sources in Mali have said the earlier state of emergency helped troops develop better ways of fighting the jihadists.

During this period Mali’s military seized arms and foiled terror plots. Officials have promised to fight terrorism without restricting civil liberties in anyway.

The possibility of declaring another sate of emergency in future has not be ruled out but officials say it will depend on how things unfold in the days ahead.

_News Agencies _