The country protests against the refusal of other member countries to let Bamako preside over the organization, due to the will of the military to maintain themselves in power.
Mali announced, Sunday, May 15, its withdrawal from the G5 Sahel and its anti -jihadist military force to protest against the refusal which is opposed to him to ensure the presidency of this regional organization formed with Mauritania, Chad, the Burkina Faso and Niger. “The Government of Mali decides to withdraw from all the organs and bodies of the G5 Sahel, including the joint force” Antidjihadist, said its press release. The G5 Sahel was created in 2014 and its anti -jihadist force launched in 2017.
A conference of heads of states of the G5 Sahel scheduled for February 2022 in Bamako was to “devote the beginning of the Malian presidency of the G5” but “near a quarter after the term indicated” this meeting “did not Still not kept, “said this press release.
Bamako “firmly rejects the argument of a Member State of the G5 Sahel which advances the national internal political situation to oppose the exercise by Mali of the presidency of the G5 Sahel”, without quoting this State.
According to the Malian government, “the opposition of certain states of the G5 Sahel to the presidency of Mali is linked to the maneuvers of an extra-regional state aiming desperately to isolate Mali”, without also specifying this state. Relations between Mali and European countries, starting with France, have largely deteriorated in recent months.
an concern for the United Nations
Mali has been targeted since January 9 targeted by a series of economic and diplomatic measures from West African States to sanction the Junta’s intention to maintain herself in power for several years, after two putschs in August 2020 then in May 2021. The junta opted for a two -year transition while the Economic Community of West African States (Cédéao) asks Bamako to organize elections in the sixteen months maximum.
Military kicks in Mali and Burkina Faso, two of the five members of the anti -jihadist multilateral force G5 Sahel, undermine his operational capacity, recently estimated the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in a Report submitted on May 11 to the Security Council.
“I am deeply concerned about the rapid deterioration of the security situation in the Sahel, as well as by the potentially harmful effect that the uncertain political situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and beyond will have on efforts to make more operational the joint force G5 Sahel, “he said in this document.