Mali: France recalls all its cooperators present in the administration
A view of Bamako capital of Mali, on the banks of the Niger River.
(Illustrative image).
© Arensond/wikimedia.org
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
At the same time when Paris announced on February 17 the withdrawal of its troops from Mali, with a reorganization of its military force Barkhane, and of the European Force "Takuba", it had been decided to freeze French civil cooperation in Mali, with in particular the withdrawal of the French aid workers present in the cogs of the administration.
They will prepare to leave Mali.
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With our correspondent in Bamako,
Serge Daniel
A few dozen French aid workers who work in Mali in ministries including, for example, that of security or in state companies, are affected by the measure.
Their expertise was rather appreciated.
They will soon return to their countries until further notice.
This decision is another consequence of the deterioration of relations between France and Mali.
This freeze on technical cooperation is coupled with a freeze on French funding for several projects via Malian state structures.
From a source familiar with the matter, it is explained that the objective is to ensure “
that the money intended for a project does not take another direction
”.
But the same sources point out that despite the crisis between the two countries, all the floodgates of Franco-Malian cooperation will not be closed.
The aid workers of the European Union remain
For example, explains an expert, in compensation, for civil aid, Paris will go through credible NGOs on the ground, or through direct aid to populations.
This will be the case of an aid project intended for thousands of people in a situation of food insecurity.
The Malian authorities will be kept informed on a case-by-case basis, adds our interlocutor.
But if the French experts who are paid exclusively from their country are leaving, those who work on behalf of the European Union are not affected by the decision.
They stay on the ground.
►Also read: In Mali, the signatory armed groups ready to "fill the void" left by Barkhane
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