The Malian transitional authorities asked France on Friday to “withdraw without delay” the soldiers of operations Barkhane and Takuba from Mali, the day after the announcement by Emmanuel Macron and his partners of a coordinated withdrawal over the next few months.
The Mali ” takes note “of the announcement of the military withdrawal announced Thursday and asks France to withdraw its soldiers” without delay from Mali, in a press release read on national television. During this statement, the spokesperson for the transitional government, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, also described the announcement as ” unilateral of the French disengagement from gross violation » agreements between the two countries. He also declared that the results of nine years of French engagement in Mali ” were not satisfactory “.
” In view of these repeated breaches (of) the defense agreements, the government invites the French authorities to withdraw, without delay, the Barkhane and Takuba forces from national territory, under the supervision of the Malian authorities. “, said Colonel Maïga.
Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, government spokesman, during his statement on national television
In the same press release, the transitional government reaffirms its readiness to further strengthen dialogue and cooperation with partners concerned with taking into account Mali’s vital interests while respecting national sovereignty and the dignity of the Malian people “.
“Good order” and “security”
Asked about this statement during the closing press conference of the European Union – African Union summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said that ” the decision of the withdrawal will apply in the good order and in security, security with which I will not compromise “. ” Our system will be rearticulated at the border in Niger “, he added.
Several thousand soldiers are present in Mali and the withdrawal, which represents a major project, will last 4 to 6 months, the French head of state said on Thursday.
This announcement comes the day after the decision taken by France and its partners engaged in the Sahel to withdraw the country’s military forces. The decision to leave Mali was confirmed Thursday at a press conference the day after a dinner organized at the Elysée between France and its partners. In particular, they denounced the multiple obstructions of the Malian transitional authorities and the presence of Russian paramilitaries from the Wagner group – still denied by Bamako – with whom they do not wish to collaborate.
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