After the expulsion of his ambassador to Bamako, France wants to clarify the situation, while remaining engaged at the Sahel against terrorism.
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With less than a turnaround of the authorities of Bamako, France and its European partners examine the opportunity and modalities of a total withdrawal of their troops from Mali. The hypothesis is indeed in the table of consultations in progress between Paris, the European and African capitals engaged in this country in the fight against jihadists.
The rupture being consumed after the expulsion of the French ambassador to Mali – Joël Meyer had to leave Bamako Thursday, February 3 -, the time came, let’s believe in Paris, to clarify collectively the situation, all By staying at the Sahel against terrorism. A decision should be announced within two to three weeks. “There is meaning to be engaged only when one can be effective. Where the conditions are not met, we must not remain, affirms a French diplomatic source. It will depend on the posture of the junta. But for The moment, it stays in climbing and nothing allows to anticipate a change. “
The subject should invite themselves to the African Union-European Union summit, provided for in Brussels on 17 and 18 February. A possible withdrawal would then take several weeks, going well beyond the French presidential election of April. A deadline that also complicates the game for Emmanuel Macron, especially if the question had to invite themselves in the election campaign.
Russian interference complicates the situation
The time is no longer to seek time to attempt to reconnect with the Malian regime, sanctioned by its neighbors in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and by the European Union. “The current subject is: Are the conditions still gathered in Mali to have an effective action against terrorist groups? That’s the question we are collectively”, highlights this source.
“European partners are all very concerned about the behavior of the junta: the removal of the Danish quota [announced on January 27] has been a failover, because it is difficult for many partners to continue to commit to If a country is dismissed in this way. “The German Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Katja Keul, should also go to Bamako Thursday, to meet with representatives of the Malian government. The German army has some 1,500 soldiers in Mali.
Although military cooperation continues to work with Mali, nothing is more like before. The French authorities now note regular restrictions on the overview of the country by the tricolor military aircraft in areas that correspond little or prou to those where the Russian mercenaries of Wagner are being deployed. “The Russian interference in this situation has considerably complicated the situation,” continues the Diplomat, for whom the Wagner Group benefits from the logistical and political support of Moscow.
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