Mali asks France to withdraw its soldiers “without delay”

The military junta in power in Bamako summoned France, Friday, February 18, to “remove without delay” its soldiers from Mali, the day after the announcement by Paris and its partners of a staggered withdrawal over the next few months. France will withdraw”in good order”and “will not compromise for a second on the safety of its soldiers”replied Emmanuel Macron.

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 “flagrant violation” agreements between the two countries. He believes that the results of nine years of French engagement in Mali “have not been satisfactory”.

“In view of these repeated failures [aux] defense agreements, the government invites the French authorities to withdraw, without delay, the Barkhane and Takuba forces from the national territory, under the supervision of the Malian authorities., says 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 rising tensions.