Mali. City of Bamako. Archive photo MOSCOW, 13 Jan. Mali officials said a French military aircraft violated the country's airspace. The Mali government indicated that a French military aircraft «type A400» on Tuesday flew Abidjan-Gao-Abidjan , that is, from Ivory Coast to Mali and back. «The named aircraft, which was clearly violating Mali's airspace, turned off its radio responder so that it could not be identified, and cut contact with control centers,» the Malian government said in a statement posted to the country's Foreign Ministry Facebook. «fraudulent maneuver». However, the plane was still «identified», and experts were also able to track the trajectory of its flight — thanks to «recently acquired means of national defense.» member states with Mali. «The Mali authorities have previously closed borders with the countries of the union, with the exception of Guinea, in response to the imposition of sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS countries imposed tough sanctions against Mali after Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said, that it will be impossible to complete the transition period with elections in February 2022 due to the security situation. The association decided to freeze Mali's assets in the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), close borders and suspend commercial operations with the country — with the exception of the sale of medical and essential goods. ECOWAS also decided to withdraw the ambassadors to Mali and to impose sanctions on financial aid. The United States and France supported the imposition of sanctions. 
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN pointed out the West's hypocrisy in the situation with Mali
