France has suspended its counter-terrorism cooperation with Mali and ordered two Malian diplomats to leave the country following the arrest of a French envoy in Bamako.
A French diplomatic source confirmed on Friday that the move comes in direct response to Mali’s recent detention of a French national accused of working with Paris’s intelligence services. Malian authorities alleged last month that “foreign states” were attempting to destabilise the nation.
The expelled Malian diplomats have until Saturday to depart France.
According to French officials, Mali had earlier declared five staff members of the French embassy in Bamako persona non grata. Those diplomats left the country last Sunday.
The French government has maintained that its detained envoy is protected by diplomatic immunity and has described Bamako’s allegations as “unjustified.” Paris has also warned that “other measures” will follow if the envoy is not released swiftly.
The diplomatic standoff adds further strain to relations already weakened since Mali’s junta seized power through successive coups in 2020 and 2021. The junta, led by President Assimi Goïta, has distanced itself from traditional Western allies, instead forging closer political and military ties with Russia.
Mali, which has battled a security crisis since 2012, continues to face violent insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and armed criminal groups—instability that has left the impoverished nation struggling to restore order.
About The Author
