In the spotlight: the future of Franco-Malian relations in question
Audio 04:15
French soldiers from the Takuba force at the Ménaka base in Mali, December 7, 2021 (photo illustration).
© Thomas COEX/AFP
By: Frédéric Couteau Follow
4 mins
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Questions are flying in the Malian press and beyond a few hours now before the mini-summit on the Sahel and Mali which is to take place this evening in Paris and on the eve of the EU-AU summit in Brussels.
“
Bamako and Paris: towards a definitive break?
asks
Mali Tribune
.
"
The diplomatic offensive (by France) to isolate the authorities in Bamako, whose only faults will have been the exploration of other horizons to protect its population against terrorism and their desire for reform, this offensive is incomprehensible,
considers the Bamako newspaper,
and stems from the manifestation of the frustration of a secular paternalism threatened by the political choices of the moment.
Beyond the frustration and the ambient anger, diplomacy imbued with mutual respect and humility must regain its rights between Paris and Bamako,
further believes Mali Tribune.
The media war accompanied by contemptuous remarks cannot be the answer to the concerns of Malians hard hit by an interminable security crisis coupled with political instability, the solution of which requires an in-depth reform of the State. In view of the dialogue of the deaf which has taken place between the two capitals,
concludes the Malian newspaper,
the future of Franco-Malian relations is a big uncertainty
.
»
No need to be a diviner...
An incomprehensible diplomatic offensive by France?
No, retorts
WakatSéra
in Burkina Faso.
"
In view of the verbal escalation which continues to climb between Paris and Bamako, and between the dismissal and recall of the French ambassador to Mali, you did not have to be an exceptional political bookmaker, even less a diviner to see the rupture , on the military level, between the two historical partners.
But France will leave Mali to stay well in the Sahel,
WakatSéra point,
and in the coastal countries of West Africa, which need well thought-out partnerships to face the terrorist ogre whose voracious appetite don't weaken.
»
Burkina?
Nigeria?
Benin?
And this meeting this evening at the Elysée will be centered on "
the departure of operations Barkhane and Takuba from Mali and their redeployment in one or more countries of the sub-region
", believes
Today
, still in Ouagadougou.
Around Emmanuel Macron will be present 3 Heads of State of the G5 Sahel, the Mauritanian Mohamed Gazouani, the Nigerian Mohamed Bazoum and the Chadian Mahamat Itno, who will be joined by the President-in-Office of the African Union, the Senegalese Macky Sall, the of the AU Commission, Mahamat Faki and the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
So wonders Today, “
Where will the soldiers of Barkhane and Takuba go in the Sahel?
In Burkina?
Where the new military power, unlike that of Mali has not yet said
"French soldiers out",
even if we noticed during the marches in support of the putschists, a cloud of Russian flags waved by demonstrators.
Presumably, Niger could welcome Barkhane or Takuba, as it is already predisposed to do so.
Mauritania too.
Unless it is Benin, hit several times recently by terrorists
.
»
"
Relaunch the relationship with Africa on a sounder basis
"
In a column published by
Le Monde Afrique
, political scientist Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos believes that “
beyond the Malian case, Barkhane's setbacks signal a more general disengagement in Africa.
A major trend since the period of independence, the decrease in the number of French people residing in Africa shows this well, because it has been accompanied by a reduction in the consular, military, cultural, scientific and technical presence of Paris south of the Sahara.
For diplomats, for example, it is much more rewarding to pursue a career in America or Asia than in Africa.
A finding that also applies to the private sector.
The decline is undeniable,
points out Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos.
It remains to be seen whether the misadventures of Operation Barkhane will really mark the end of an era. A reduction in the military system in the Sahel could be an opportunity,
he continues, to
relaunch the relationship with Africa on sounder bases, rather than simply seeking to preserve achievements.
It is still necessary that in France, the presidential candidates want to seize the subject other than through a security rhetoric.
»
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