“Losing your life to ensure the safety of a country that doesn’t want you raises a lot of questions”, estimated, Tuesday February 1 on franceinfo, Christian Cambon, president of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defense and the Armed Forces of the Senate, and senator for Val-de-Marne. He will audition in the coming days Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly on the situation in Mali. The Malian junta, in power in this country, will expel the French ambassador, announced state television on Monday 31 January. The Malian authorities have justified this decision by recent declarations “hostile” of French officials against them.
>> Mali: “France will work with its partners to see what is the evolution of its presence” on the spot, explains Gabriel Attal
franceinfo: How do you assess the situation of France in Mali?
Christian Cambon: It’s a feeling of bitterness because in these difficult days for France in Mali I think of the 53 soldiers who lost their lives there and the hundreds of wounded who will be scarred for life. The observation is that the junta, currently in power in Mali, does not want the French presence and the humiliations that we are made to endure must lead us to an in-depth examination to assess the solutions that we have before us. This humiliation poses our relations with the countries of Africa. The Minister says that it is excellent but despite everything it is a sign of weakness that we identify and it is also a questioning in Europe. I hope that the indications of the government are the right ones. There are a lot of questions and a big mess to see.
Should France disengage its military?
The disengagement had started since the President of the Republic had announced a redeployment but I think that now we must be very clear. When I see Mali calling into question our military agreements, when I see that it prohibits the overflight of part of the territory of Mali to our own planes, when I see the presence of the Wagner militias fed by the Russians who increasingly take in addition to positions in the country, anti-French campaigns, of course we can only draw conclusions from this situation.
“I think we have to have the courage to say that it is probably no longer from Mali that we will have to continue our presence in the Sahel.”
Christian Cambon, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committeeat franceinfo
Does the fight against terrorism continue?
Of course, but you should know that there is never a military solution to this kind of conflict. The political solution that is in the hands of the Malian leaders will one day prevail, but it must respect a certain number of principles. Our soldiers fought to ensure Mali’s security and sovereignty. When we learn that a number of its leaders are in the process of opening talks with terrorists who have French blood on their hands, this is unacceptable.
What do you expect from the French government?
We ask that it associates the national representation. Our fellow citizens are asking many questions about this commitment. They see our soldiers coming back injured or worse and wonder why we are there. Losing your life to ensure the safety of a country that doesn’t want you raises a lot of questions.