France and Mali’s already tense relationship just hit a new low. The French government has halted counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and told two Malian consular officials in Paris to pack up and leave the country right away. In response, Mali kicked out five French embassy staff members, labeling them persona non grata.
This latest clash stems from the arrest of French national Yann Vezilier last month in Mali. Authorities there charged him with plotting a coup, claiming he got help from foreign powers to stir up trouble among civilians, politicians, and even soldiers. Mali’s security minister, General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, went further, accusing Vezilier of working directly for French intelligence to rally opposition against the government.
France isn’t buying it. Officials in Paris called the allegations baseless and pointed out that Vezilier works at the French embassy in Mali’s capital, Bamako. The French foreign ministry warned that more steps could follow if Mali doesn’t release him soon. Back in August, France said it was in talks with Mali to sort out the mix-up and get their citizen freed quickly.
What was once a strong alliance has soured fast since Mali’s military seized power almost four years ago. Under President Assimi Goita, the junta has pushed France away, forcing out French troops and turning to Russia for military backing instead. Mali’s ongoing security crisis, which exploded in 2012, only adds fuel to the fire. The country faces constant threats from al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked militants, plus local criminal gangs that have spread violence across the region.
Goita’s leadership has drawn more criticism lately. In June, he extended his rule for five more years, just a month after dissolving all political parties. That move flew in the face of his earlier pledge to hand power back to civilians by March 2024, leaving many wondering about Mali’s path forward amid this France-Mali diplomatic rift.
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