Banks and fuel stations in Mali resumed operations Friday after their union reached an agreement with the ruling junta, ending a strike that began the previous day.
The National Union of Banks, Insurance Companies, Financial Institutions, Retailers, and Gas Stations (Synabef) initiated the strike on Thursday, demanding improved working conditions and the release of three union members detained a month ago.
Mali, governed by a military junta following successive coups in 2020 and 2021, has also been grappling with a prolonged security crisis since 2012.
In a joint statement issued late Friday by Synabef and the Prime Minister’s office, both parties confirmed “the suspension of the strike order” after talks led by Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga.
“We have reached agreement on the 15 points of demand. The Synabef board has decided to suspend its strike action,” the statement read, without elaborating on the terms.
A union source told AFP that the detained union members are expected to be released by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.