The decision of the Malian junta to denounce the defense agreements with Paris is "unjustified", protested Tuesday, May 3 the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

France "considers this decision unjustified and formally contests any violation of the bilateral legal framework which would be attributable to the Barkhane force", underlines the spokesperson for the Quai d'Orsay in a written declaration.

The junta in power in Mali announced on Monday evening that it was breaking the status of force agreements (Status of Force Agreements, or Sofa) setting the legal framework for the presence in Mali of the French Barkhane and European Takuba forces, as well as the cooperation treaty in defence, concluded in 2014 between Mali and France.

Government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga invoked France's "unilateral attitude" when it suspended joint operations with Malian forces in June 2021, announcing in February - "again without any consultation from the Malian side" - the withdrawal of Barkhane and Takuba forces, as well as the "multiple violations" of airspace by French aircraft despite the establishment of a vast no-fly zone above the territory.

Last week, the junta also accused the French army of "espionage" and "subversion" after the French general staff broadcast videos shot by a drone near the Gossi base (center), returned in April by France, showing according to him Russian mercenaries burying bodies in order to accuse France of war crimes.

"Repeated and deliberate violations of airspace"

Paris has, however, ruled out any repercussions on the calendar of Barkhane's delicate current withdrawal, announced in February and supposed to be spread over six months.

The Quai d'Orsay assures that it "will continue the orderly withdrawal of its military presence in Mali, in accordance with the commitments made to its partners and for the sake of coordination and respectful dialogue with the Malian armed forces". .

In addition, Paris "reaffirms its vigilance with regard to any attempt to manipulate information" and "recalls its determination to ensure the safety of its soldiers and the European soldiers engaged at its side during this phase of disengagement" .

The UN Security Council held an informal closed-door meeting on Mali on Tuesday at Russia's request, diplomats said.

In a letter sent to the UN at the end of April, obtained by AFP, Bamako had denounced "repeated and deliberate violations of national airspace by foreign aircraft, in particular by French forces, for the purposes of espionage, intimidation and subversion".

With AFP

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