Rabat — France has responded to Mali’s decision to arrest a French envoy in Bamako by suspending counterterrorism cooperation with the African country.
A French diplomatic source confirmed the news on Friday to AFP, saying that France also ordered two Malian diplomats to leave Paris.
Mali arrested the French national in August, accusing him of working for Parisian intelligence services. The country’s authorities also accused the “foreign states” of destabilizing the West African nation.
Mali also announced five staff members of the French embassy in Mali as persona non grata. They left Bamako on Sunday, the French diplomatic source said, threatening other measures against Bamako if the French envoy is not released soon.
Tensions have been flaring between France and Mali. The crisis further escalated following the arrest of the French embassy’s staffer, Yann Vezilier in August. The Malian authorities announced that the envoy was arrested along with two senior generals as well as at least 55 soldiers, accusing them of plotting a coup.
For Malian authorities, the French soldiers are backed by foreign powers.
France responded to the allegations, describing them as “unjustified.” They also demanded the immediate release of the envoy.
Observers now share concerns about the security situation in the region as Mali continues to endure threats, especially from terrorist and criminal gangs.
Converging reports said that relations between the two countries “have never been worse,” recalling France’s military withdrawal in 2022.
French media mainly blame Mali’s ruling force for worsening the crisis between Paris and Bamako.“This latest episode illustrates the continued deterioration of historic ties between France and Mali since the military junta came to power after two coups in 2020 and 2021,” Les Echos reported.
