On Thursday, Malian authorities briefed that a French military aircraft violated Mali's airspace, flying over Cote d'Ivoire to Mali and back.

The French military aircraft was an A400 model: "The named aircraft, which committed a clear violation of Mali's airspace, turned off the radio transponder in order not to be identified, and ceased contact with the flight control centers," the Malian government said in a statement posted on Facebook by the country's foreign ministry.

The Malian authorities called France's violations a "fraudulent maneuver," and condemned the violation, stressing that France made a decision "to support the ECOWAS sanctions, including the closure of the land and air borders of the member countries with Mali."

African leaders impose harsh sanctions on Mali 

On Sunday, West African leaders decided to impose new tough sanctions on Mali, including border closures and a trade embargo after its military rulers delayed a return to civilian rule.

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also agreed to cut financial aid and freeze Mali's assets at the Central Bank of West African States, according to a final declaration.

At a closed-door gathering in Ghana, the bloc leaders decided that they will recall member states' ambassadors to Mali.
 
The meeting followed months of increasing tensions over the timetable for restoring civilian rule in Mali after two coups and a military takeover.

Junta strongly condemns illegal ECOWAS sanctions

On Monday, Mali's junta said it "strongly" condemned 'illegal sanctions' imposed by the Economic Community of West African States on the country ECOWAS.

Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, the spokesman for the military regime, announced the recall of Bamako's Ambassadors to the West African nations involved, as well as the closure of air and land borders with them, in a statement read on national television.

ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) imposed a slew of economic and diplomatic sanctions on Mali last Sunday, including border closures and a trade embargo, describing the junta's intention to stay in power for several years as "completely unacceptable".

The regional leaders' meeting in Ghana came after months of rising tensions over the timeline for restoring civilian rule in Mali following two coups and a military takeover.

"The government of Mali strongly condemns these illegal and illegitimate sanctions," said the junta's statement.

It accused ECOWAS and UEMOA of being "exploited by extra-regional powers with ulterior motives," a clear reference to Mali's military partners in the Sahel, such as France.

The junta stated it "deplores the inhuman nature of these measures which affect populations already severely affected by the security crisis and the health crisis."