Mali's junta decide to reopen air space

BAMAKO - The National Committee for Redressment of Democracy and Restoration of the State (CNRDRE) has decided to reopen Mali's air space beginning Monday.

According to a statement issued on Monday afternoon by the CNRDRE, the planes will be authorized to fly within the airspace as from 8:00 am to 1:00 am (local time and GMT).

However, the statement did not mention the reopening of the terrestrial borders.

Elsewhere, a number of Malians, especially economic operators and transporters, have complained that they had "suffered" due to the closure of the borders.

"I have seven trailers full of avocados coming from Cote d'Ivoire. They were blocked at the entry to Mali," one of the transporters said and expressed his fears that those avocados will rot faster because of too much heat.