Malians rally in support of army, criticize France
The people of Mali are expressing further dissatisfaction with France following its so-called operation in its former country that it claimed was to combat terrorism, not to mention the discovery of mass graves that are believed to have been the making of Paris.
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Demonstrations in Bamako, Mali, in condemnation of France
Malians on Friday took to the streets of the capital, Bamako, in a demonstration in support of the Malian Armed Forces. The demonstrators also voiced dissatisfaction with France's actions in the country, a former colony.
Malian troops have reportedly found bodies buried near the base in the town of Gossi, which had been under the control of French forces until they handed it over to Mali this week.
On April 20, the Malian armed forces entered a former French military base in the town of Gossi and reportedly discovered a mass grave, which is said to be the site of a massacre that killed 203. The French authorities have denied any involvement in the burials and insisted they were staged by the Russians, which is a claim heavily disputed by the locals and Moscow alike.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it supported Mali's intent to launch an investigation into France over the mass graves.
The demonstration took place in Bamako near the Monument of Independence. Hundreds of Malians have expressed dissatisfaction with France's actions, accusing the French military of the mass killings in Gossi and expressing support for Russia on the matter.
The rally participants held posters with the slogans "Thousands of children are victims of Macron", calling Macron a White racist, "Macron, what did you need your drones for?", "Macron is the butcher of Gossi".
The demonstrations garnered many Malians intent on getting rid of French influence in the country and holding Paris accountable for its crimes in its former colony and the largest nation in Africa.
Malian National Transitional Council member Aboubacar Sisiki Fomba had said the French military was "scurrying to hide mass graves in Mali that they have been responsible for."
The rally participants held posters with slogans "Thousands of children are victims of Macron (White racist)", "Macron, what did you need your drones for?", "Russia in defense of Africa", "Macron is the butcher of Gossi".
Mira Terada, head of the Russian non-profit organization Foundation to Battle Injustice, said earlier this month that the media campaign French outlets launched in relation to the situation in Mali is based on gross falsification and designed to cover the French military crimes.
France had sent troops to the western African country in 2013, with the stated goal of defeating jihadists in northern Mali and the Sahel. The operation ended in February following the deterioration of France's ties with its former colony.
