The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali has lodged an official protest with the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, citing the unauthorized entry of Ibrahim Moustapha, a reporter for Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, into Malian territory. The ministry’s statement, released this week, accuses the journalist of operating in northern Mali without proper accreditation and allegedly collaborating with armed terrorist groups—a claim that has yet to be addressed publicly by either the news outlets or Riyad.

Reporting from Kidal, a city beyond state control

Multiple reports indicate that Ibrahim Moustapha conducted coverage in Kidal following the withdrawal of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and their Russian auxiliary forces, the Africa Corps, from the city in late April 2026. This withdrawal followed an agreement negotiated with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Since the coordinated offensives of April 25, Kidal—alongside Tessalit, Aguelhoc, and Hombori—has fallen under rebel control, slipping from Bamako’s grasp in early May.

The Malian government has dismissed the journalist’s reports as « fabricated and baseless », alleging they aim to undermine the country’s defense and security forces. Bamako also condemns what it describes as a severe breach of journalistic ethics.

Diplomatic strain in a long-standing alliance

The Malian protest directly targets the Saudi state, which owns the implicated media outlets through the MBC Group. The ministry’s statement emphasizes that such actions by a « brotherly and historically friendly nation » could « damage bilateral relations ». The warning carries weight given Saudi Arabia’s long-standing role as a discreet donor to Mali, particularly through funding for religious and cultural infrastructure, as well as both nations’ shared presence in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated that no infringement on the country’s sovereignty or territorial integrity will be tolerated, noting that the alleged violations are subject to legal consequences under Malian law. Thus far, Riyad has not issued an official response.