With these accusations, the military-dominated government takes the verbal escalation of its incriminations against France to a new level. The new commander of the French anti-jihadist force in the Sahel considered the remarks “insulting” for the memory of the French and Malian soldiers and peacekeepers killed in Mali, a country caught in the jihadist and security turmoil since 2012.
These latest manifestations of the deterioration of relations strictly coincide with the departure of the last French soldier in Mali after nine years of engagement against the jihadists. The junta in power in Mali since the August 2020 putsch has turned away from France and its allies to turn towards Russia.
The French army, pushed towards the exit, successively left and transferred to the Malian authorities its various bases in Mali, the last Monday in Gao. The Russians seem to have not dragged. The German government said on Wednesday it had information that around 20 to 30 people, probably Russians in uniform, were spotted unloading a plane at Gao airport on the day of the French departure.
The airport immediately adjoins the perimeter which included the French base, and also includes the camp of the UN mission (Minusma), with a strong German contingent.
– Caution –
The same day dates a letter sent by the head of Malian diplomacy, Abdoulaye Diop, to the Chinese presidency of the UN Security Council. The letter, sent on Wednesday to journalists by its services and abundantly reproduced on social networks, denounces the “repetitive and frequent violations” of national airspace by French forces in recent months, and the flights of French aircraft. engaging in “activities considered to be espionage” and attempts to “intimidation”.
The Malian authorities have “several pieces of evidence that these flagrant violations of Malian airspace have been used by France to collect intelligence for the benefit of terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and to drop arms and ammunition on them”, adds Mr Diop. He suggests that the French may have transported two members of a jihadist group by helicopter in early August to the Timbuktu region.
Mali “invites” the Security Council to work for France to “immediately cease its acts of aggression” and asks the Chinese presidency to communicate these elements to the members of the Security Council with a view to an emergency meeting, says Mr. Diop.
Mali “reserves the right to use self-defence” if French actions persist, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, says the minister.
General Bruno Baratz, commander of the French Barkhane force, found it “surprising” that the French were accused of supporting the jihadists.
– Reconnaissance –
“It’s a bit insulting to the memory of our 59 (French) comrades who fell fighting for Mali, and also to the memory of all the Malians who fought alongside us, but also the personnel of the Minusma, African Minusma forces who fell fighting against terrorism”, he told Radio France Internationale in Niger, a neighboring country of Mali and an ally of France which has accepted the maintenance of an air base. French in Niamey.
Asked about the accusations made by Mali against France, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations was “extremely grateful to France and the French forces for their commitment” to stabilizing the mali. Farhan Haq hoped in front of the press without naming anyone that any other country cooperating with the Malian authorities would try “likewise to play a stabilizing role”.
As for an emergency Council meeting, he said the decision was up to its members.
Mali is not a member of the Security Council and its request must be relayed by a member state. A diplomat said on condition of anonymity in New York “improbable” that such a meeting would take place.
