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Mali conflict “set to spread”

Mali Keystone

The ongoing conflict in Mali could spread to Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The fighting between Malian government troops and Islamic forces sucked in French forces earlier this month. A stream of refugees is escaping the violence across borders.

The influx of thousands of refugees will add pressure on already tense situations in other countries and could signal a collapse of social order beyond Mali, ICRC President Peter Maurer told swissinfo.ch

The whole Sub-Saharan region is becoming “militarised”, according to Maurer. 

The full, wide-ranging interview on the ICRC’s activities in Africa and Syria is now published on swissinfo.ch.

(Updated January 24, 10:15) 

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR