La Croix

mediocre

: in 9 years of presence, the French contingent has not eradicated terrorism or stabilized the country,

The situation is even worse for the population.

And Paris has been ousted from its status as a major partner by the

putschist officers in power, who prefer Moscow to it.

France has shown an excess of confidence,

La Croix

in its ability to stem the deep and lasting crisis that Mali is going through.

To shorten it

: You don't put out a fire with a glass of water.

The challenges were too broad.

Concentrated on their combat mission, Barkhane's 5,000 men could not provide a response to the strong economic, social, climatic and ethnic tensions that are fragmenting society

However, La Croix

this failure should not lead to abandoning the Malian people, linked to France by innumerable family and cultural ties.

The solutions to the difficulties it faces require endurance, solidarity, transnational cooperation, and increased support from the international community.

The current authorities are certainly sinking into a logic of isolation.

But we must already prepare, with the countries of the region, the moment when they will want to break the impasse, or will have to give way

Le Figaro

France scored one-off points, temporarily securing various portions of the immense Mali and eliminating leaders who were immediately replaced.

But it has not prevented the proliferation of jihadists, two coups since 2020 and the arrival of the group of Russian mercenaries Wagner, which accelerated its eviction through misinformation and commercial collusion with a junta encouraged in its excesses. .

Thus,

Le Figaro

we have lost 59 soldiers and spent a billion euros a year to finally leave behind us a black hole, where the same perils – terrorism and immigration – threaten us more than ever.

A departure through the back door

Sud-Ouest

The open crisis with Mali at least has the merit of forcing Paris to revise its African policy.

The objective of helping the States of the zone to combat armed jihadism remains valid.

But it is clear that the interventionism of the beginning, even tempered by the creation of the G5 Sahel and the joint work with the local armies, failed,

Sud-Ouest

Or did, in any case, only delay the spread of terrorism.

one year after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, which allowed the return of the Taliban to Kabul, does the French departure from Mali foreshadow the fall of Bamako

?

We will see if the regime of Malian colonels, badly shaken by the jihadist attacks despite the support of its new Russian allies of the Wagner militia, will be able to prevent it

what are Wagner's Russian mercenaries doing in Mali

?

Le Parisien

Bamako denies their presence, only mentioning “instructors” from Russia to support its army.

While Moscow speaks of a "commercial" contract between Wagner and Mali which would not concern Russia.

How many are they

?

No official figure can be advanced.

Emmanuel Macron, however, mentioned last February the presence of around 800 mercenaries, who came "with predatory purposes", he said.

Generally, as soon as the French soldiers leave a base, Wagner replaces them in stride with the FAMa, the Malian Armed Forces

Parisian

The Malian army has indeed intensified its anti-jihadist operations for several months, relying on Wagner.

During these clashes, Russian mercenaries are on the front line.

They fight daily alongside the FAMa

a remobilization of the Malian army

Le Parisien

this increased armed presence has not improved the security context.

Already the epicenter of conflict in the Sahel since 2012, Mali has seen war escalate and jihadist expansion accelerate.

Attacks have increased to the south in recent months, including around Bamako.

And Wagner's operations are not always successful.

Worse, the group is accused of numerous abuses against civilians