Mali withdraws from military pacts with France

Mali, May 03: Mali's military junta on Monday said it was withdrawing from military accords it signed with France.

The African country broke off the agreements it signed in 2014, after then French President Francois Hollande said he decided to intervene in Mali to fight against Islamist insurgency.

Mali threatened to withdraw from treaties for several weeks now

The junta's announcement was long time coming because France and other European partners announced their decision to withdraw from Mali in February, after fighting jihadist violence in the country for nearly ten years.

"For some time now, the government of the Republic of Mali notes with regret a profound deterioration in military cooperation with France," junta spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said in a televised statement.

In announcing its decision in February, France laid the blame on deteriorating political situation in the country and repeated coups.

There was a surge in violence after France decided to pull troops, with relations between Paris and Bamako deteriorating even further.

Mali accuses France of violating national sovereignty

Mali's ruling military junta condemned "flagrant violations" of its national sovereignty by departing French soldiers.

JGovernment's spokesman Maiga cited multiple instances of the French violating their country's air space.

Maiga also talked about France's announcement to end military operations in Mali in June 2021, and its subsequent decision to pull troops earlier in the year.

Malian authorities said they have informed French authorities about their decision.

The French government has not reacted to the news yet.

Last month, Mali accused the French military of spying over a military base in northern Mali, after the French military released what it said was footage of a mass grave there.

France said Malian authorities and Russian-linked mercenaries were trying to accuse French soldiers of committing grave crimes.

Source: DW