Coup d'état in Mali: Paris insists on "the return to the rule of law"

French President Emmanuel Macron, welcomed in Gao by his Malian counterpart, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, on May 19, 2017. CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL / AFP

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France, which has 5,100 troops currently engaged in Mali, is closely monitoring events in Mali.

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The condemnations continue to rain on the military putsch which took place Tuesday, August 18 in Mali. The African Union has suspended the country from all its activities. The organization calls for the release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The European Union has also reacted strongly, notably at the initiative of France. The former colonial power has 5,100 soldiers deployed in Mali and the surrounding countries to fight against jihadist groups. Paris therefore insists on “a  return to the rule of law  ”.

The French authorities see in the current events in Mali, "  a source of instability  ". The Élysée explains that any extra-constitutional solution would also be “  an opportunity for jihadist groups  ”. The objective is clear: "  not to lose the achievements of the fight against terrorism  ". A fight for which France claims to have "  made a lot of efforts  ". A military source told Reuters that "  the [French] armies have submitted several proposals to the Minister [of the Armed Forces Florence Parly] and to the president with a view to a possible adaptation  " of the Barkhane device.

On the evening of Wednesday August 19, President Macron affirmed that “  the fight against terrorist groups and the defense of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable  ”. The Élysée says it supports the aspirations of the Malian people. “  What we have to concentrate on is the return to civil power,  ” they hammer home in Paris. The French presidency says it takes note of the resignation of the Malian head of state and insists on his release without requesting his resettlement. “  We must distinguish between President IBK [Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta] and legality. We have to do with reality,  ”they say in the entourage of President Emmanuel Macron.

►Also read: Mali: the mutinous soldiers call for a civil transition and elections

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