the military government gives the French ambassador 72 hours to leave the country

The Malian junta, in power in this country, will expel the French ambassador, state television announced on Monday January 31. “The government of the Republic of Mali informs national and international opinion that today (…) the French ambassador in Bamako, his Excellency Joël Meyer, was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs andinternational cooperation [et] that he has been notified of the decision of the government which invites him to leave the national territory within 72 hours”, authorities said in a statement.

The Malian authorities have justified this decision by recent declarations “hostile” of French officials against them. “It is clear that the situation as it is cannot continue”, had warned Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Friday, January 28. This summons marks a new hardening of tensions between Mali and France, the former colonial power engaged militarily in the fight against jihadist fighters in Mali and the Sahel since 2013. Relations have continued to deteriorate since colonels seized power by force in August 2020.