LMalian authorities dominated by the military decided on Monday to expel the French ambassador, in a new steep escalation of the estrangement between Bamako and Paris.
French Foreign Affairs was content to take “note” of a measure which, however, poses even more acutely the question of the French military commitment in Mali.
The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the head of the French diplomatic mission in Bamako, Joël Meyer, in post since October 2018, and “notified him of the decision of the government which invites him to leave the national territory within 72 hours,” according to a statement read by state television.
The Malian authorities have justified this decision by recent “hostile” and “outrageous” remarks by French officials against them.
“These statements tend to call into question both the legality and the legitimacy of the authorities to which the French ambassador is accredited (…) You cannot be accredited to authorities that you yourself do not recognize”, Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said in the evening on state television.
Relations with France, a former colonial power engaged militarily against the jihadists in Mali and the Sahel since 2013, have continued to deteriorate since colonels took over by force in August 2020 the head of the country, plunged since 2012 into a deep security and political crisis.
They escalated further in May 2021, with a new putsch by the same colonels to strengthen their hold.
Mr. Meyer had already been summoned in October 2021 when French President Emmanuel Macron had reacted strongly to remarks by the head of the Malian government referring to the planned reduction in the French workforce and speaking of “abandonment in full flight”. Mr. Macron had in return spoken of “shame” on the part of “what is not even a government”.
Tensions have been further exacerbated since the junta under the leadership of Colonel Assimi Goïta revoked its initial commitment to hold elections on February 27, and the organization of West African states Cédéao imposed severe sanctions on January 9. diplomatic and economic benefits to this poor, landlocked country.
The junta now intends to stay in place for several years.
France and its European allies are also alarmed by the call made, according to them, by the junta to the mercenaries of the sulphurous Russian company Wagner, a group reputed to be close to the Kremlin, accused of abuses in the Central African Republic and engaged in other theaters .
The junta persists in denying it. It entered into resistance against part of the international community by invoking national independence. She accuses France of exploiting sub-regional organizations and maintaining its “colonial reflexes”.
Credibility issue
It has multiplied the acts of claiming sovereignty by asking for the revision of the defense agreements with France or by pushing Denmark to withdraw a contingent of one hundred men deployed with the group of European special forces Takuba, initiated by France.
Malian authorities are now “demanding” that any deployment of military or civilian personnel under Takuba be subject to the prior invitation of the President (Colonel Goita) and the agreement of the government, according to a document sent Monday night. AFP by Foreign Affairs.
The junta also boasts of its cooperation with Russia, from which many men, “instructors” according to it, have arrived in recent months.
French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly declared on January 25 that the junta was multiplying “provocations”. His Foreign Affairs colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian, two days later, described the junta as “illegitimate” and its decisions as “irresponsible”, after the withdrawal of the Danish contingent.
France deployed more than 5,000 soldiers in the Sahel and Mali before deciding in 2021 to reduce the airfoil. With recent developments, she wonders about the modalities of her presence.
The head of his diplomacy declared on Friday that France and its European partners could not “stay as they are”.
Pending possible political decisions, the Chief of Staff of the French Army, General Pierre Schill, reported that on the ground joint operations were continuing with the Malian army.
The Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs assured that the current “dispute” between capitals “does not affect French nationals who are among us or French companies”.
31/01/2022 23:10:29 – Bamako (AFP) – © 2022 AFP