Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop confirmed that France no longer had a legal basis for action in Mali, noting that after Bamako withdrew from the defense agreements with France and agreements regarding the status of Barhane and Takoba forces, and from 2 May , agreements signed in 2013 and 2020.
Diop made it clear in an interview on state television on Wednesday evening that Mali’s withdrawal from the Defense Cooperation Treaty prevents France from conducting any military operations in the country.
The finance minister criticized France’s decision in June 2021 to end joint operations with the Malian army after seizing power in May 2021 and said: “This decision that Mali learned from the press is not normal, when we have an agreement, these are things that are being discussed” .