BAMAKO (The Global Frontier) – Malian Prime Minister Chogoel Kokala Maiga says France is aiding separatist groups in the African country and inciting European Union countries against Bamako.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, in which he discussed his country’s tense relations with France and Denmark and cooperation with Russia, Maiga said that France, through its representatives in all international institutions, is trying to obstruct development projects in Mali.
Maiga indicated that France has influence on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and that it is pressuring the group to issue sanctions against Bamako.
He added, “Mali believes that France has all the information about the decisions that will be taken at the summits of the Economic Community of West African States, and is able to influence and direct those decisions.”
He explained that France announced the date of the ECOWAS summit on January 9, and the sanctions that would be imposed on Mali, about a month before the summit.
He also accused France of violating military cooperation agreements, and stated that it had decided to leave the military base in the north of the country without notifying the government, which prompted the latter to review the cooperation agreement that allowed France to establish a military base.
Maiga stated that they were surprised that the Economic Community of West African States took decisions on Mali based on information received in the French and European media, and without opening any channels of dialogue with Bamako.
He added that the current government in Mali has analyzed the situation by drawing lessons from history, in light of the developments that the world has witnessed during the past twenty or thirty years, noting that Paris is still seeking to dominate the African continent.
He pointed out that the security situation is getting worse despite the military operation “Barkhane” launched by France in 2014 to eliminate armed groups in the African Sahel and the efforts made by the United Nations “MINUSMA” mission and the European Takoba Task Force.
He stressed that the separatist groups that came to the region and Mali from Libya after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 were supported by France, as they received direct support from the latter with weapons and ammunition.
He continued, “Paris made a promise to the separatists to occupy and divide Northern Mali and establish an independent state for them. This is what the leaders of separatist groups who receive public support from French politicians say.”
Maiga indicated that the transitional government formed after the 2013 coup in Mali asked for help from France, which in turn responded.
Relations between Mali and its former colonizer have turned acrimonious since August 2020, when France and other EU countries began imposing punishing economic and financial sanctions on the country after their puppet regime was ousted in a military coup.