While drought-affected individuals total 3.7 million in 196 vulnerable communes (the lean season started earlier than usual and household food stocks are already exhausted), populations continue to arrive from rebel-occupied Northern Mali. This results in increased numbers of Internally Displaced Persons within Mali and refugees in neighboring countries. The political and security situation in Mali remains volatile since the Coup d’Etat of 22 March and the subsequent rebel groups’ advance in North. An interim government was announced on 25 April.

Update

• On 26 and 27 April, during the ECOWAS summit in Abidjan, decision was taken to establish a 12 months transition in Mali with interim president Dioncouda Traoré to remain at his post throughout the year-period. Furthermore, ECOWAS decided to send some 3,000 military troops to secure transition institutions in Mali and prevent an eventual rebel advance further South (and possibly launching an attack against the rebel forces in the North to restore Mali’s territorial integrity). Coup leader, Captain Sanogo, reacted very strongly to the ECOWAS summit’s decisions. In his view, the 12 months transition comes as a violation of the “Accord Cadre” signed on 6 April establishing a 40 days interim period. Furthermore, he vowed to stop any ECOWAS troops from coming into Mali.