Bamako claims that no agreement has been signed with Copenhagen. The head of Danish diplomacy recalled the “clear invitation” made by the Malian regime in 2019.
Le Monde with AFP
The junta in power in Mali reiterated “with insistence”, in the night of Wednesday to Thursday, January 27, his immediate starting requirement of a hundred Danish soldiers, deployed in the Sahelian country within the framework of the European group. of special forces “Takuba”, initiated by France.
Bamako had already asked Denmark to call back “immediately” his contingent, recently arrived in Mali to participate in “Takuba”, – a force designed to accompany the Malian soldiers in combat against jihadists – on the grounds that this deployment was “intervened without his consent”.
The Malian government – dominated by the military who came to power during a putsch in August 2020 – skewed the nail Wednesday night in a statement: “No agreement” does not allow the deployment, he “invites, insistently, The Danish part to immediately withdraw its special forces from the Malian territory “.
” Not appropriate message “
According to the Junta, Copenhagen seized Bamako on June 29, 2021 “a draft text to agree on the status of Danish special forces to intervene in the” Takuba “force”. This request is “under review”, responded to the Malian government in November, according to the statement, and Denmark remains in “waiting for the validation of the agreement”.
The Danish Foreign Minister, Jeppe Kofod, had the opposite argued Tuesday that his country had sent special forces to Mali following a “clear invitation” of the Malian regime and tries to “clarify” why he suddenly asked for their departure.
The Malian junta asserts in his last press release have read with “surprise and consternation” a “message not appropriate”, Monday, on social networks, of Mr. Kofod who estimates “unfounded the conclusion of an agreement” between the two countries before the deployment of Danish forces.
After restrictions in the Malian airspace and the questioning of the Bamako Defense Agreements in Paris, this request for withdrawal from the Danish quota is a new obstacle to the French and European military action in Mali.
Relations with France in particular, engaged militarily in Mali and Sahel since 2013, have severely deteriorated.
The European countries engaged in Mali in the “Takuba” special forces group had asked Wednesday to the Malian junta, before the communiqué of it, to “respect the solid basis for diplomatic and operational cooperation”.
“Claire invitation”
“We, international partners engaged in support of Mali and its people in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace and stability and in the fight against terrorism, deeply regret the statement by the Malian Transitional Authorities (…) alleging Whether the deployment of the Danish quota in the Task Force “Takuba” intervened without legal basis and without the consent of the Government of Mali, “says the joint communiqué, calling the Malian authorities to” quickly remedy this situation “.
“We remember that all the partners of the Task Force” Takuba “lead their action in accordance with the strong legal framework that has been approved with the Sovereign Government of Mali, including a formal invitation sent by the Malian authorities to international partners” , he says again.
“The junta multiplies the provocations”, had been indignant Tuesday the French minister of the armies, Florence Parly, saying his “solidarity with our Danish partners, whose deployment is done on a legal basis, contrary to what Today says the Malian junta “.
Composed of French and European special forces, the new group “Takuba”, initiated by France and today with nearly 900 soldiers, must help the Malian forces to gain autonomy.
In addition to France, which pilots strength, the Netherlands, Estonia, Sweden, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Norway, Portugal, Italy and Hungary participate.