Why does Mali accuse France of supporting jihadists?
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart after their meeting in Moscow on May 20, 2022. AFP - YURI KADOBNOV
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Mali again on the offensive against France, this time before the United Nations.
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 information was revealed by our colleagues from
Jeune Afrique
, but RFI was also able to obtain this letter.
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"
Talataye on August 6, Lerneb on August 7, between Tessit and Gao on August 8
"... in his letter, Abdoulaye Diop lists a series of aerial intrusions into the Malian sky which, according to the head of Malian diplomacy, would have served to the French Barkhane force to monitor the Malian army, to intimidate it and above all “
to collect intelligence for the benefit of terrorist groups
” and “
to drop arms and ammunition on them
.
»
Fifty violations
In total, Bamako denounces about fifty violations of its airspace by drones, helicopters or French fighter planes, since the beginning of the year.
Accusations and figures already known, since the Malian government had already reported them at the end of April.
At the time, Mali and France accused each other of being the authors of a
mass grave in Gossi
.
France had denounced a "
disinformation campaign
" orchestrated by the new Russian allies of Bamako.
The end of Operation Barkhane in Mali was announced in February by France, its withdrawal was also completed at the beginning of the week.
But it was only last May that Mali officially challenged the defense agreements binding it to France: since then, the two countries have had divergent visions of what the French army could still legally do on Malian territory. .
"
Uncoordinated unilateral actions
"
During this period, Barkhane admitted to carrying out counter-terrorism operations.
Bamako denounces "
uncoordinated unilateral actions
" with Mali and calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Minister Diop even threatens to use “
legitimate defense
” in the face of what he describes as “
aggression.
»
►
To read also:
The commander of the Barkhane force denounces "insulting" accusations from Mali
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