The chief of French diplomacy denounced “the manipulations” of Moscow and the wanderings of Bamako during the Conference of Ambassadors, in Paris.
Le Monde
The power junta in Mali “sails in sight, failure failure”, launched, Friday, September 2, the head of French diplomacy Catherine Colonna, a few weeks after the military withdrawal of France from this country in prey to jihadism and violence.
“In Mali, we see the armed terrorist groups progress throughout the country, the Malians displaced by the thousands,” she said before the French ambassadors gathered in Paris for their annual conference. “The regime, author of a double coup, one day attacks Denmark, the next day in Côte d’Ivoire, and always in France, to try to make us forget that he sails in sight, failure in failure, harnessed to a group of Russian mercenaries, “she continued.
France, whose relations with the Malian junta in power since 2020 have become execrable, completed her departure from the country on August 15, after nine years of military engagement against the jihadists.
The Malian authorities have since turned to Russia for military support, with “instructors” that Paris and Washington accuse of being mercenaries of the sulphurous Wagner group.
“New competitions”
In Africa, “new competitions are manifested, some in a aggressive or unscrupulous manner,” said M me colonna, while France and Russia are also engaged in an information war, particularly in Mali.
At the end of April in this country, a French drone had surprised mercenaries featuring a false mass grave near a French base, to accuse Paris of war crimes. “We must dismantle the manipulations and cut short the lies, we must also regain control of our own story, of our image,” launched the Minister, evoking a “strategic issue”.
“It is up to us to demonstrate that we are the right partner, the most reliable, the most respectful,” said M me colonna, assuring that Paris was determined to “act with states and dialogue directly with civil societies “.
“We will remain present with the African states who wish, and in support of the needs which they express sovereignly,” she repeated.