Malian PM Regrets France's "Unilateral Announcement" of Withdrawing Troops
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Malian prime minister accuses France of abandoning his country after withdrawing the Barkhane forces, and says that this decision prompted his country to search for "other partners."
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The French Ministry of Armed Forces announced suspending its joint military operations with the Malian forces.
Mali Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga accused France yesterday, Saturday, of abandoning his country with its decision to withdraw troops this year.
In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Maiga expressed his regret for France's "unilateral announcement" of withdrawing the Barkhane forces without coordinating with the UN and the Malian government.
The prime minister also mentioned that this decision has forced his government to seek "other partners," in a reference to Mali having asked private Russian companies to maintain security in the country.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed at the UN on Saturday that Mali has asked the private Russian military company, Wagner, to help it fight insurgents.
Eight years after the French military intervention in the Sahel region, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in June that his country will reduce its presence in the region to focus efforts on "fighting terrorism" and supporting local armies in battles within the framework of an international coalition that includes European countries.
Operation Serval - a Failure
French troops first launched Operation Serval and intervened in Mali in 2013 under the pretext of "ending the control of extreme Islamists" that started in 2012 in some Malian towns. However, the instability continued even within the French presence.
Operation Serval was later replaced by Barkhane and expanded to include other Sahel countries such as Burkina Faso and Niger.
It is estimated that the number of French troops in the Sahel region will reduce from 5,000 to 2,500-3,000 by 2023. In addition, the French Ministry of Armed Forces announced suspending its joint military operations with the Malian forces after Mali's last coup d'état on May 24, 2021.
On the other hand, thousands of Malians protested in Bamako in support of the current military government earlier this month. The protestors denounced France's "failed" intervention in Mali.
This comes amid growing international pressure facing Malian interim president, Colonel Assimi Goita, to renounce a possible agreement with Russian private security firm, Wagner.
