An informal Security Council meeting on Mali took place at the UN on Tuesday 3 May. Russia had made the request for the complaint of Mali to be mentioned with regard to the supposed violations of its airspace by France, in the case of the images of the mass grave taken by French drones. The exchanges were rather lively.
With our correspondent in New York, Carrie Nooten
It is to the 193 countries of the UN that Mali sent its letter of accusations of espionage against France. Russia has thus convened this meeting behind closed doors so that Bamako and Paris can discuss this episode in an increasingly tense global context. The Malian transition forces denounce a violation of the no-fly zone. Paris cries a lie: according to her, Gossi was not affected by the no-fly zone, and the taking of images would be in accordance with that provided for in the 2013 agreement.
The Russian deputy ambassador pointed out French “disinformation” on Tuesday, arguing the need to respect the sovereignty of Mali. Paris sent Moscow back to the ropes on the question of sovereignty, in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And above all, she was indignant that the Russian deputy ambassador suspected manipulation around the Massacre of Gossi like that of Butcha in Ukraine.
France says it has called for an independent investigation to be able to formally identify these men present at the Gossi mass grave.
►Also read: Mali: the questioning of defense agreements, new episode of tension with France