France reducing diplomatic staff in Mali due to insecurity: ministry

France is reducing the number of its diplomatic staff in Mali due to a deteriorating security situation in the west African country which has been hit by a jihadist fuel blockade, a foreign ministry source said on Friday.

"France continues to monitor the security situation in Mali closely," the ministry official said, asking not to be named.

"In light of the situation, and following the example of several of its partners, it has decided to adapt its diplomatic and consular arrangements," the official added, referring to the United States and UK which have already evacuated non-essential diplomatic personnel.

Mali, like its Sahel neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger, is led by a junta which seized power in a coup and has

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