France and its allies announced that they have decided to withdraw their forces from Mali, which joined the “Barkhane” and “Takoba” forces, due to the deterioration of relations with the new transit authorities in this African country.
In a joint statement from the Elysee Palace, it was confirmed that “the political, operational and legal conditions in Mali are no longer suitable for the effective conduct of their military activities in Mali” by France and other European countries participating in the said operations, and Canada. “The fight against terrorism” in this country.
He blamed the transit authorities in Mali for causing “many obstacles” that prevented the “Barkhane” and “Takoba” forces from carrying out their activities, noting that this prompted the allies to decide to “initiate the coordinated withdrawal of the allocated military resources”. From the territory of Mali to these two operations.”
At the same time, it was stated in the statement that the allies agreed to continue their work in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region, especially in Niger and the Gulf of Guinea, and political and military consultations were initiated to determine the terms of this agreement. Joint action until June 2022.
“In order to limit the possible geographical expansion of the activities of armed terrorist groups to the south and west of the region, international partners express their readiness to actively consider expanding their support to neighboring countries in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa, at their request,” the statement read.
Macron: I reject the idea of a French failure in Mali
French President Emmanuel Macron, at the health meeting he held today, emphasized that he completely rejected the idea that the French mission in Mali had failed and said, “What would have happened in 2013 if France had not intervened? We would definitely have witnessed the collapse of the Mali state.” .
Noting that the French army has achieved many successes, including the liquidation of the “Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” amir in June 2020, Macron noted that the reason for the withdrawal was due to the approach of the new military officials on this issue. country.
“We cannot continue joint military action with the de facto authorities and we do not share their strategy and covert goals. This is the situation we face in Mali today. The fight against terrorism cannot and should not justify everything. It is an absolute priority that has become an exercise in long-term power retention.” Unnamed”.
The French president said that one of the points of contention lay in the “alleged” use of the services of the Russian private military “Wagner” group by the new Malian authorities, saying that this group’s presence there came “with the aim of securing its own economic interests and the ruling military council.”
Macron in Mali son While announcing that the closure of the French bases will take place in a period of four to six months, the President confirmed that the European forces will withdraw from Mali in coordination with the United Nations and this country’s army. these forces will be redeployed in Niger territory close to the Mali border.
The French president has warned that the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea are “strategic priorities for ISIS and al-Qaeda”.
This comes just days before Macron was expected to announce his candidacy in the French presidential election scheduled for next April.
Relations between France and Mali have deteriorated sharply since the military coup in this African country in August 2020.
It is noteworthy that 48 of the 53 soldiers that France lost in the Barkhane Operation were martyred in Mali.
Source: “AFP”
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