New charge against France Monday, February 7 from Malian Prime Minister Choguel Maïga. At the Primature, where he received diplomats accredited to Bamako, he notably accused Paris of having sought ” partition from Mali. He also marked his country’s reservations against the European Takuba force, responsible for fighting against jihadists in the Sahel, before once again criticizing the ECOWAS sanctions against his country.
With our correspondent in Bamako, Serge Daniel
Before the diplomats accredited to Bamako, the Malian Prime Minister devoted the first part of his speech to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Choguel Maïga once again qualified ” illegitimate and illegal » the sanctions taken against his country by the sub-regional institution. But for him, the quarrel is temporary, as if he hinted at a way out of the crisis with ECOWAS.
He also mentioned once again the relationship of his country with Paris. France, like other European countries, accuses Mali of using on the local ground mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Company… which Bamako denies. Choguel Maïga, in turn, evokes elements of Barkhane forces by choosing an adjective: “ They were French legionnaires, I was going to say mercenaries, who exercised within the Barkhane force. »
Mali’s security is the top priority, he continued, before pausing on European anti-jihadist forces : “ Takuba is to divide Mali. It is “the sword”, in (language) songhai and in tamasheq, it is not a name that was taken by chance “, he said.
The head of the Malian government ended with a pro-domo plea for his country, insisting that ” Mali is committed to respecting its international commitments “.