With other African states that are members of ECOWAS considering military operations, several states connected to Niger have rushed to pledge support, many of whom have had coups recently.
Their album Welcome to Mali (2008) was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
The borders that have reopened are mainly in remote desert areas. Niger's key entryways for trade and commerce remain closed due to sanctions imposed by the regional bloc.
"Any military intervention against Niger would be considered as a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali," a statement reads.
Prigozhin confirmed to Afrique Media that a new rotation of Wagner forces had recently arrived in the Central African Republic ahead of a constitutional referendum on July 30
British media made light of the incident, with the BBC running the headline "You've Got Mali," a deliberately inaccurate reference to a 1998 Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan romcom.
Also targeted in Monday's action was Mali’s Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Alou Boi Diarra, and Malian Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff, Adama Bagayoko.
Concerns have been raised as the Russian-allied Mali government will soon have access to decades worth of mistakenly sent secrets.
Iran’s goal in this case appears to be to extend its influence to more countries in Africa.
The doctor and his wife were seized in January 2016 from Djibo, near Burkina Faso's border with Mali, where they have operated a 120-bed clinic for more than 40 years.
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