(3 minutes read)
- There were celebrations in Mali, particularly in capital Bamako as the French troops are withdrawing from the country
- While the Malians are hurling foul words against the French and Europeans, they have good words for Wagner, the Russian mercenaries and are welcoming them to their soil.
- While French President Emmanuel Macron announced withdrawal of his troops from Mali, a spokesperson for the Malian government in a televised statement said that the result of France’s nine – year- old engagement in the country was not satisfactory
There were celebrations in Mali, particularly in capital Bamako as the French troops withdrew from the country. While the Malians are hurling foul words against the French and Europeans, they have good words for Wagner, the Russian mercenaries and are welcoming them to their soil.
While French President Emmanuel Macron announced withdrawal of his troops from Mali, a spokesperson for the Malian government in a televised statement said that the result of France’s nine – year- old engagement in the country was not satisfactory.
France first intervened to combat a jihadist insurgency in 2013 in Sahel region. France presently has 4600 troops stationed in the region. Of that, 2400 are stationed in Mali. The Malians celebrated the withdrawal of the French security forces by burning a European flag. Those who were participating in the celebrations were carrying the placard welcoming Wagner. How the Jihadists movement and atrocities they perpetrate can be stemmed has to be seen. Many feel that some banana republics in the Sahel region, which have recently witnessed coups may go into the fold of Russians and Chinese.
