Spain suspends funding for Mali over coup

Spain suspended its development funding to Mali after a military coup ousted the government in the west African country, while maintaining humanitarian aid, the Spanish government said on Saturday.

“The Spanish government, in view of the breakdown of constitutional order that has taken place after the coup d’etat in Mali, has decided to suspend all cooperation, except humanitarian aid, until law is restored in the country,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.

Spain has donated 37 million euros ($49 million) a year in combined development funds and humanitarian aid to Mali for the past four years, it added.

Mutinous soldiers seized power in Mali on Thursday from President Amadou Toumani Toure, saying they were fed-up with the government’s inability to deal with an insurrection by Tuareg rebels.