Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/3/malis-junta-breaks-off-from-defence-accords-with-france
Mali’s ruling military has announced it is breaking its defence accords with former colonial ruler France, condemning “flagrant violations” of its national sovereignty by the French troops stationed there. This announcement is just another sign of the continuing deterioration of relations between Mali and its former ruler. France so far has not issued an official reaction to the announcement.
“For some time now, the government of the Republic of Mali notes with regret a profound deterioration in military cooperation with France,” spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said in a televised statement. One of these instances is the continued presence of French military aircraft in Malian airspace. Another one of these instances stated is the June 2021 move by France to end joint operations with Malian forces and the decision taken in February to pull French troops out of the West African state. Tensions between France and the military government in Mali, which seized power in August 2020, have been rising for some time. Since then, France’s relationship with Mali has worsened as the government resisted international pressure to set a timetable for a swift return to democratic governance. The military initially promised to restore civilian rule, but it failed to meet an earlier commitment to West African bloc ECOWAS to hold elections in February this year, prompting regional sanctions.
Additionally, France has objected to the Malian government’s cozying up with the Kremlin and the Wagner group, Kremlin linked Russian mercenaries who have been accused of countless human rights abuses. The Kremlin claims the Russians are just military instructors helping to restore order.
I find myself wondering what France will do in a situation like this. It is a former colony of theirs that they previously had at least amicable relations with prior to the military takeover. I feel that they feel they can not stand by while this new government buddies up with one of France’s enemies on the global stage. Additionally, I’m sure France wants to keep their former colony in a state of democracy as opposed to a rule that is not voted on by the people of Mali, despite what the government says.