Force commander Barkhane denounces "insulting" accusations from Mali

General Baratz, commander of the Barkhane force (COMANFOR), August 17, 2022. © Mounia Daoudi/RFI

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1 min

General Bruno Baratz is the new commander of the Barkhane force (COMANFOR).

He reacts to the decision of the Malian junta to seize the UN.

Bamako accuses the Barkhane force of supplying arms and intelligence to armed terrorist groups in Mali. 

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While the withdrawal of the Barkhane force was completed earlier this week, the Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs wrote a letter to the UN Security Council to denounce violations of Mali's airspace.

Abdoulaye Diop also accuses the French army of supporting the jihadists.

The letter written by Abdoulaye Diop is dated August 15.

The Minister begins by listing a series of cases presented as “

 ”: “ 

” allegedly flew over Mali “

 ” from Bamako.

General Bruno Baratz answers questions from our special correspondent,

.

"For us, French soldiers, who have always been transparent about the Malian authorities, we find it insulting for our 59 comrades who fell fighting for Mali, and also for the memory of the Malians who fought for our sides, but also Minusma personnel, African Minusma forces who fell fighting against terrorism.

It's a little insulting on their part, because indeed, we did everything to fight until the end.

Even at the time of the disengagement, there had been a clash between the personnel of the 13th DBLE and a group of the EIGS, causing two deaths in the ranks of the EIGS.

It is astonishing to accuse us today of supporting and supporting terrorism.

»

General Bruno Baratz: For us, French soldiers, who have always been transparent about the Malian authorities, we find it insulting..."

Mounia Daoudi

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