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Mali has asked the UN Security Council for an emergency meeting to stop “acts of aggression” by France in the form of violations of its sovereignty, support for jihadist groups and spying
Mali has asked the UN Security Council for an emergency meeting to stop “acts of aggression” by France in the form of violations of its sovereignty, support for jihadist groups and spying.
A letter serving this purpose was presented to journalists by the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently, which was addressed by the head of diplomacy, Abdoulaye Diop, to the Chinese presidency of the Security Council. The minister tressed that Mali reserves the right to use self-defence if French actions persisted, in accordance with the UN Charter, the minister said.
Dated August 15, the date of the departure of the last French soldier in Mali after nine years of engagement against the jihadists, the letter assumes importance. The junta has been in power in Mali since August 2020. France has become its worst enemy, from its previous role as the protector. Mali is now an ally of Russia, much to the consternation of western forces.
Mr. Diop denounced in the letter the repetitive and frequent violations of the national airspace by French forces. He also alleged that the flights of French aircraft engaged in activities considered as espionage and attempts to intimidate.
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Malian authorities said that they have several pieces of evidence to prove flagrant violations of Malian airspace by France to collect intelligence for terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and to drop arms and ammunition to them. French authorities did not respond to these allegations so far.
