Eng'iti
Elder Lister
By SYLVIE CORBET and BABA AHMED today
Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP, File )
PARIS (AP) — France is facing its toughest challenge in Africa in years: What to do about thousands of French troops stationed in junta-led Mali, the core of a major international anti-terrorism operation in the increasingly restive Sahel region.
Mali’s coup leaders ordered France’s ambassador to leave the West African country this week, the latest episode in a growing diplomatic crisis between Mali and its African neighbors and European partners.
A military pullout from Mali, where French forces have been active since 2013, would shake up the region.
Here’s a look at the challenging relations between France and Mali.
WHAT PROMPTED TENSIONS WITH MALI?
Paris insists that Mali’s military rulers have not stuck to their promise to hold new democratic elections by the end of this month as was demanded by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and other international partners.
Col. Assimi Goita, who grabbed power in an August 2020 coup, already had carried out a second coup by dismissing the civilian leaders in Mali’s transitional government and putting himself in charge last year. Tensions further escalated further when Goita postponed the next presidential vote until 2026.
ECOWAS responded to the delay by imposing more sanctions on Mali. Then last week, the Malian government ordered Danish soldiers out of the country. The Danes had recently arrived to join a European-led military task force known as Takuba...
More here
apnews.com
Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP, File )
PARIS (AP) — France is facing its toughest challenge in Africa in years: What to do about thousands of French troops stationed in junta-led Mali, the core of a major international anti-terrorism operation in the increasingly restive Sahel region.
Mali’s coup leaders ordered France’s ambassador to leave the West African country this week, the latest episode in a growing diplomatic crisis between Mali and its African neighbors and European partners.
A military pullout from Mali, where French forces have been active since 2013, would shake up the region.
Here’s a look at the challenging relations between France and Mali.
WHAT PROMPTED TENSIONS WITH MALI?
Paris insists that Mali’s military rulers have not stuck to their promise to hold new democratic elections by the end of this month as was demanded by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and other international partners.
Col. Assimi Goita, who grabbed power in an August 2020 coup, already had carried out a second coup by dismissing the civilian leaders in Mali’s transitional government and putting himself in charge last year. Tensions further escalated further when Goita postponed the next presidential vote until 2026.
ECOWAS responded to the delay by imposing more sanctions on Mali. Then last week, the Malian government ordered Danish soldiers out of the country. The Danes had recently arrived to join a European-led military task force known as Takuba...
More here
EXPLAINER: France in sticky situation amid crisis with Mali
France is facing its toughest challenge in Africa in years: What to do about thousands of French troops stationed in junta-led Mali, the core of a major international anti-terrorism operation in the increasingly restive Sahel region.
apnews.com
