Choguel Maïga affirms that Bamako has "never requested" the departure, recently announced, of the French soldiers of Operation Barkhane.
He assures that the French have taken the decision to leave "on the grounds that Mali is preparing to discuss with the terrorists."
He thus refers to the choice of Paris, announced on June 3, 2021, "to suspend joint military operations with Malian forces".
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces then explained that it was "awaiting guarantees" on a return of civilians to power after elections scheduled for February.
The head of the Malian government explains that the Malian soldiers have already reoccupied the bases liberated by the French in recent weeks.
“We have reorganized ourselves,” assures the Prime Minister.
Asked about the Russian group Wagner, he said that Mali works "with Russian cooperators", under a contract signed with Moscow.
"The word Wagner, it's the French who say it. We don't know Wagner," he says.
Choguel Maïga claims several victories against the jihadists on the ground: "We went to the heart of terrorism to destroy the bases and we are gaining ground".
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