US-Mali Deal: Drones Fly, Pilot Search

0:00What's up? This is Global News Today, bringing you the fastest global updates right now. The United States is close to a deal with Mali that would let American aircraft and drones fly over the country again to track Jihadist groups tied to. Al Qaeda Officials say this comes after Washington lifted sanctions last month on Mali's defense minister and others, a move that addressed a big request from Bamako. Mali's push partly aims to find an American pilot kidnapped a neighboring Niger and now held in Mali by the group Jamat, Newsrat al-Islam, Wall Muslim. The Trump administration wants to rebuild ties strained under the previous team, especially as Jihadist gained ground in Mali's huge territory about, twice the size of France. Mali's government welcomed the sanctions lift on February 27, calling it a step to improve relations while respecting their sovereignty. Stop U.S. envoy Nick Checker visited last month to meet Mali's foreign minister and signal a fresh start based on mutual respect.

1:02In the Sahel region, military-led governments like Mali's have turned to Russia for help after coups toppled Western-back leaders leading to breaks, like with Niger over a U.S. drone base. Still, the U.S. has shared intel before that helped Mali's stride Jihadist leaders. A former U.S. official expects Mali to agree eventually since they benefit from a American surveillance where their own falls short. No word yet on basing aircraft, though neighbors like Ivory Coast could host them, amid ongoing militant attacks on mines and roads. This DNN story comes to you thanks to our sponsor. It looks like a pillow. It sounds like headphones built for comfort and sound, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.