In France, Malians in the whirlwind of the diplomatic crisis with Mali

As a result of the diplomatic crisis between France and Mali, no direct flight has linked Paris to Bamako since January 10, the date on which Air France decided to suspend its air links in application of the embargo decreed by the Community. economic power of West African States (ECOWAS) against Mali.

As a result, "it takes more than ten hours to reach Bamako, going around the world", ironically Demba Diabira, the president of the High Council of Malians in France (HCMF).

“We did not expect it,” he explains.

Many Malians now pass through the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to return to their country.

"It's restrictive or even impossible for the elderly," regrets Demba Diabira.

“This decision took us by surprise”, abounds Salif Dembele, 28, student in political science at the University of Paris 8 since 2017 and member of the Association of Malian students from Île-de-France.

His great uncle, passing through France for medical reasons, got stuck here after his flight to Bamako was canceled.

"The travel agency says it will take several weeks to refund the ticket. He can't afford to take 600 euros out of his pocket overnight, so we all clubbed together to pay for his return trip by Ethiopia. But it cost us dearly."

Conversely, other Malians residing in France are stranded in Mali and are struggling to return to resume their work, relates Demba Diabira.

Impact on remittances

"It doesn't seem like much, but it penalizes entire families," points out the representative of the HCMF, which brings together nearly 800 Malian associations in France.

Fewer travelers to Mali also means fewer funds and gifts sent by the diaspora for families in the country.

"There are regions where we have no choice but to go through a trusted traveler to send money to rural areas, to places where there is no office to receive Western Union Money Transfers," he said.

In Mali, the money sent by the diaspora officially represents more than 5% of GDP, not counting clandestine money transfers, particularly through travellers.

Ibrahim*, owner of a transfer office in Montreuil in the Paris suburbs, saw more and more Malians crossing the door of his agency to send funds by Western Union to Mali.

"Falling back on transfers when it's not in the habits, it requires a whole organization, comments Demba Diabira. Because you still have to find someone you trust in Bamako who can make the round trip to the village. "

Parcels blocked in Dakar

The diplomatic crisis and the sanctions adopted by ECOWAS also have an impact on the entry of goods into the country.

The effect is felt even in the small shop in Montreuil, where Ibrahim is sorry to announce to customers that their cans are stuck in Dakar.

"Only food and medicine parcels go through, but for other personal things, for the moment, it's stuck. We are waiting for the situation to change but if that does not change, I will have to consider going through Guinea [alone country of the sub-regional organization to have left its border open, Editor's note]."

"It will prove France's critics right"

French and Malian, Ibrahim hopes for an appeasement between his two home countries, while regretting the words of the French authorities which he considers "haughty" towards the new Malian power.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian thus castigated on January 27 an "illegitimate" Malian junta taking "irresponsible measures", after the authorities in Bamako pushed Denmark to withdraw its contingent of special forces. .

From now on, France is no longer releasing the pressure on the Malian junta.

Ibrahim fears that this will further fuel the anti-French sentiment he feels among the Malian population.

"That Mali and France can continue to work together is a wish", considers for his part Mamoudou Alpha Diallo, president of the Association of Malian students in Île-de-France, "but in a logic of 'Equal to equal', adds the young man, who invites us to 'not deny the popular base of the junta'.

For Demba Diabira, Paris went too far by announcing that Air France was suspending its connections.

"The French state should manage this without taking Malians hostage, because it will prove France's critics right. These are unpopular measures. People don't understand why they are being targeted."

And the representative of the Malian diaspora associations to fear an escalation of political diatribes targeting Mali a few weeks before the French presidential election.

"The words of some candidates were useless and not likely to ease tensions," he regrets.

"We are countries linked by history and we must not sacrifice this link to a government or an election. Governments pass but states and peoples remain."

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