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- Mali’s prime minister  accused France of having sought the partition of the west African country during its military mission there
- Â This, he cited is reason for the latest flare-up in relations between Paris and Bamako.
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Mali’s prime minister  accused France of having sought the partition of the west African country during its military mission there. This, he cited is reason for the latest flare-up in relations between Paris and Bamako.
In a 45-minute speech to diplomats gathered at his request, Choguel Kokalla Maiga denounced France, the former colonial power. He is a vocal critic of the military regime that appointed him. France is leading the anti-jihadist force in Mali. France’s military intervention in 2013, he conceded had halted a jihadist insurgency that had already captured the north of the country and threatened the south. But, later the French operation turned into a de facto partition of the country.
France is  already  is considering withdrawal of its forces  in consultation with its EU partners as a retaliation to  Mali expelling  its ambassador last week. French President Emmanuel Macron lashed out at the junta’s failure to stick to a timetable for a return to civilian rule.
