French deputies debate the form of the French presence in the Sahel
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, deputy La France insoumise and candidate for the French presidential election of 2022, in the hemicycle of the National Assembly, February 9, 2021. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In his statement to the National Assembly, Prime Minister Jean Castex defended the results of the French presence in the Sahel and provided after-sales service for President Emmanuel Macron's policy, and received support and criticism.
Advertising
Read more
Faced with a sparse assistance, Jean Castex denounced the attitude of the "
de facto authorities
" of Bamako and the arrival of Wagner who made the French departure inevitable.
“
This situation is the result of international competition marked by strategies of direct or indirect confrontation in all physical and immaterial fields and I am thinking in particular of the crucial field of information.
»
►
Also to listen:
Lines of defense: Barkhane: end clap in Mali
On this point, he received the support of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The only presidential candidate to speak, he had chosen to address himself mainly to Malians: "
Here we are brought back to the putschist soldiers, the bandits, the thugs, those who despise the people and who, moreover, think we insult and that somehow we can feel guilty.
We are not.
»
The majority parties obviously support the announced reorganization.
On the right, the Republicans broadly share the need to remain present in the Sahel, as do the Socialists, who are nevertheless worried about unfavorable local opinions.
Among the critical voices, the independent deputy Frédérique Dumas deplored that the authorities had “
wanted to hear nothing
” about the root causes of jihadism since 2014: “
Have the soldiers done their duty?
The answer is yes.
For some, they paid with their lives.
Have the political leaders done their duty?
The answer is no.
»
Another former macronist who went to the opposition, Sébastien Nadot pointed to a "
slap received
" from a "
proud people
".
Communist Jean-Paul Lecoq denounced him as a "
failure from day
one ", which "
calls for reflection and humility
".
►
To read also: Departure of Barkhane from Mali: return to an acclaimed then disavowed French operation
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Africa
sahel
France
mali
Defense