The International Monetary Fund has said it is "closely" following developments in Mali following a coup last month that has plunged the country into turmoil.
"Given the uncertainty of the situation, we're monitoring it closely and assessing next steps," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said.
"You may have noted that we have evacuated our resident representative and the team from Mali as a precautionary measure," he told reporters at a regularly scheduled news briefing.
In late December, the IMF approved a new three-year $46.3 million loan for Mali, one of the world's poorest countries, under an Extended Credit Facility for countries with severe balance of payments problems.
The IMF immediately disbursed $9.3 million, saying that the loan was in support of the West African country's strategy to increase growth and reduce poverty.
After an army coup ousted President Amadou Toumani on March 22, the World Bank, the IMF's sister institution, and the African Development Bank on the same day suspended their aid for Mali, with the exception of emergency assistance.
