This decision marks a hardening in relations between Paris and Bamako, who cease to deteriorate since colonels took the lead of Mali by force in August 2020.
Le Monde with AFP
Malian authorities dominated by the military decided to expel the Ambassador of France, announced Monday 31 January a statement read to state television:
“The Government of the Republic of Mali informs the national and international opinion that this day (…) the French Ambassador to Bamako, His Excellency Joel Meyer, was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation (and) that it has been notified to the Government’s decision that invites it to leave the national territory within 72 hours. “
The Malian authorities justified this decision by recent declarations “hostile” of French officials against them. The leader of French diplomacy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said Friday that the situation in Mali had become “untenable” and that the junta in power in Bamako was “out of control”.
This convocation marks a new harm of tensions between Mali and France, the former colonial power engaged in Mali and the Sahel since 2013. Relationships have continued to deteriorate since colonels took by the Force in August 2020 the head of this country plunged since 2012 in a deep security and political crisis.