France ends counter-terrorism cooperation with Mali and dismisses two of its diplomats
- Arrest of French military personnel and diplomats in Mali
- Paris's reaction to the arrest
- Mali's response to the accusations
- Political context between France and Mali
- Impact on French influence in Africa
Detention of French military personnel and diplomats in Mali
Security cooperation between France and Mali is at an all-time low since the detention of 55 soldiers in Mali in August, including high-ranking generals from the inner circle of President Assimi Goita and the French intelligence officer sent to Mali, Yann Christian Bernard Vézilier.
Among the generals arrested are the former civilian prime minister of Mali, Choguel Maiga; Abbas Dembélé, governor of the central region of Mopti; and Néma Sagara, brigadier general of the Air Force General Staff, the only woman in Mali's history to reach this rank.
According to the French media outlet Le Point, Christian Bernard was a member of the French External Security Directorate (DGSE); a former flight officer in the French Air Force; and has more than 30 years of experience as Second Secretary at the French Embassy in Mali.
Paris' reaction to the arrest
Paris has suspended all contracts for counter-terrorism cooperation with Mali and has given 48 hours for Malian diplomats residing in France to leave the country or face expulsion.
It is expected that this measure will not be the only one taken by the administration of France's new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The French Foreign Ministry has issued a statement saying that the new measures will be implemented ‘if our citizen is not released quickly’ and has expressed ‘its deep concern’.
Mali's response to the accusations
Mali has declared all members of the French embassy in Bamako, the country's capital, ‘persona non grata’. Goita claimed that foreign states were supporting a plot to destabilise Mali's institutions.
‘Military and civilians – foreigners and Malians – wanted to thwart the reconstruction of Mali,’ Assimi Goita said during his speech on national television after the arrest of the French diplomat and high-ranking generals who were conspiring against Mali.
In contrast, Daoud Aly Mohammedine, senior colonel and Mali's Minister of Security and Civil Protection, said that Bernard's intentions were part of a ‘conspiracy against the stability of the country’ and reported that France was informed ‘with complete transparency’.
Political context between France and Mali
Since the junta, led by President Assimi Goita, came to power after two consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021, it has distanced itself from its Western partners to align itself politically and militarily with Russia in the name of national sovereignty.
Paris described the accusations of destabilisation of Bamako as ‘unjustified’ and said that the embassy employee should be released under diplomatic immunity.
Impact on French influence in Africa
France's loss of influence on the African continent is a reality. Incidents such as Bernard's are not isolated cases. In the summer of 2023, French diplomats accused of ‘conspiracy’ were also detained in Burkina Faso and released due to pressure from the French government.