(4 minutes read)
· French authorities reacted sharply to Mali’s military junta’s Monday’s announcement expelling its ambassador from Mali
· The brief and cryptic note issued by the French foreign ministry said that it took note of the announcement
· It also expressed solidarity with its European partners, which are committed to the anti-jihadist mission
· French ambassador Joel Meyer has not been declared persona non grata
· But the government of Mali wished for him to leave the territory within 72 hours for reasons related to the outrageous statements that were made against the transitional authorities
French authorities reacted sharply to Mali’s military junta’s Monday’s announcement expelling its ambassador from Mali. The brief and cryptic note issued by the French foreign ministry said that it took note of the announcement. It also expressed solidarity with its European partners, which are committed to the anti-jihadist mission.
French ambassador Joel Meyer has not been declared persona non grata. But the government of Mali wished for him to leave the territory within 72 hours for reasons related to the outrageous statements that were made against the transitional authorities. The Mali administration found his statement unacceptable and rejected it. This is the upshot of the terse statement issued by Abdoulaye Diop, Mali’s Foreign Minister, on Monday.
He further explained that comments by the ambassador are against the legality and the legitimacy of the authority with which the French ambassador was accredited. However, the minister has quick to pointed out that the expulsion of the French ambassador did not mean French nationals were not welcome in his country. It further pointed out that the differences that Mali has with France did not affect the French nationals in the country; nor does it affect the French companies operating in the country. Tensions between Mali and France along with its European allies reported to have surfaced after the junta reportedly hired Russian mercenaries from the paramilitary group Wagner to fight jihadists.
