French soldiers are no longer welcome in Mali. The ruling junta in Bamako on Friday asked France to “withdraw without delay” its military forces from the West African country. However, President Emmanuel Macron addressed them in response to an end of inadmissibility, the day after the announcement by the latter of a staggered withdrawal over the next few months.
In a statement read on national television, the spokesman for the government installed by the military, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, describes the announcement of the French disengagement as a “flagrant violation” of the agreements between the two countries. He also says that the results of nine years of French engagement in Mali “have not been satisfactory”.
” Without delay “
“In view of these repeated breaches (of) the defense agreements, the government invites the French authorities to withdraw, without delay, the Barkhane and Takuba forces from national territory, under the supervision of the Malian authorities,” said Colonel Maïga.
The request for immediate withdrawal from the colonels who came to power by force in August 2020 is a new challenge to the former French partner, after months of escalating tensions.
Macron’s refusal
French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the military junta’s demand on Friday and warned against any threat to their security.
“We have announced the reorganization of the system and it will be applied in good order to ensure the security of the United Nations mission and all the forces deployed in Mali. I will not compromise for a second on their security”, warned the Head of State during a press conference at the end of the 6th summit between the EU and the African Union in Brussels.