Mali is seen as one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

Violent Islamism is spreading and there is great political concern.

Two military coups have been carried out in nine months and last Friday the country got a new government where the military has high posts.

Sweden's largest military operation is currently in Mali.

Sweden participates in three ways: in the major UN operation Minusma, in the training mission with the EU and in the international rapid reaction force against terrorism Task Force Takuba together with France.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that the French-led operation in the Sahel region will end in its current form.

France's message does not affect - yet

- It does not really affect what we do, but it will do so in the future, says Sweden's Commander-in-Chief Micael Bydén in Ekot's Saturday interview.

Sweden participates with 150 soldiers in the international force Task Force Takuba, which is part of Operation Barkhane.

ÖB says in the interview that the cooperation with the Malian army has been paused, but that the Swedish soldiers are ready to step in if something should happen.

- We're really good at this.

To be the good party.

We understand other cultures and what level they are at, he says during the interview regarding the operation in Mali.

Head of Operations: "It is important to have a stable situation"

Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist (S) has previously stated to Ekot that France's plans will not affect the Swedish presence at present.

"It is important for everyone involved that we get a stable position in terms of what our French counterparts want to do and when," the Swedish Armed Forces' chief of operations Michael Claesson told the radio.

Several opposition politicians are asking for more information from the government to know how Sweden should behave.

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Colonel Assimi Goita has seized power in Mali for the second time.

But what happened before that?

Photo: Reuters