Mali to cut off all defence ties with France

The Malian government says it is breaking off all defence agreements with its former colonial ruler France.

It cited multiple violations of its sovereignty by French troops in the country, and noted a “profound deterioration of the military co-operation with France for some time now”.

In a statement by military spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, it noted multiple instances of the French having violated the country’s airspace.

Mali also cited the June 2021 decision by France to end joint operations with Malian forces and to pull out troops from the country.

Malian authorities said they had informed France of its decision on Monday afternoon.

France has not commented on the development.

Relations between France and Mali deteriorated after the military seized power in 2020.

France was angered by Mali’s reported decision to use fighters from the Russian mercenary group Wagner to help confront the jihadists, though the junta denies they are in the country.— BBC