Mali plunged into chaos in March after a military ruler overthrew the president , shaking one of West Africa 's most stable democracies . U.N. Security Council gives regional leaders 45 days to provide a deployment plan . The United States and its allies have been pushing for the council to approve such a plan, but Russia has blocked it because of concerns about possible unintended consequences. It comes amid grim reports of human rights violations in the north .
U.N. Security Council gives regional leaders 45 days to provide a deployment plan . The United States and its allies have been pushing for the council to approve such a plan, but Russia has blocked it because of concerns about possible unintended consequences. It comes amid grim reports of human rights violations in the north .