Mali: the junta prohibits the activities of NGOs funded by France
A view of Bamako capital of Mali, on the banks of the Niger River.
(Illustrative image).
© Arensond/wikimedia.org
Text by: David Baché
2 mins
This Monday, the Malian junta announced a ban on the activities of NGOs funded by France.
A further step in the escalation between Paris and Bamako.
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After the expulsion of the French ambassador, the end of
the Barkhane military operation
and numerous acts and words of defiance, Bamako is reacting this time to France's suspension of
its funding for development NGOs.
According to the press release, all activities of NGOs funded by
France
are now prohibited.
The decision has “
immediate effect
” and concerns not only French NGOs but also all those “
operating in Mali with funding from France
”, or even simply “
with material or technical support from France
”.
Medical, educational, agricultural NGOs or even providing emergency food aid or water supply… The number of prohibited organizations has not yet been established, but there are dozens.
Many Malian associations are also affected.
Communique #042 from the Government of the Transition of Mali following the announcement by France of the suspension of its “development aid” pic.twitter.com/0YedG5Q2Mo
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali (@MaliMaeci) November 21, 2022
“
A non-event
”
In its press release, the transitional government also returns to France's announcement of the suspension of its public development aid: “
a non-event
”.
The French authorities, albeit civilians, are again referred to as a “
junta
”, a term already used by the transitional Prime Minister, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, at
the podium of the United Nations General Assembly.
While the share of development aid paid directly to the Malian national budget had indeed been cut, many NGOs active in Mali continued to receive French funds.
And it is precisely these funds that Paris has announced that it wants to eliminate, arousing
the concern of beneficiary development organizations.
A reflection was continuing in Paris for certain humanitarian activities and emergency aid which Bamako has just cut short since the ban which has just been indicated also concerns humanitarian activities.
The Malian transitional authorities consider the French aid “
dehumanizing
” and believe that it constitutes a “
means of blackmail
” and that it serves to “
support terrorist groups
” active in Mali.
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