As relations fray, Mali accuses France of splitting country, spying
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[February 08, 2022]
By Paul Lorgerie
BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali has accused
France's military of deliberately dividing the West African country and
of committing espionage during its fight against Islamist militants, in
the latest verbal volley that has seen relations spiral in recent weeks.
Choguel Maiga, appointed interim Prime Minister following a coup last
year, did not provide evidence for his claims, made during a meeting
with global diplomats on Monday evening to which the media was also
invited. French officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Maiga's remarks will further fray tensions between Mali and its former
colonial ruler France, whose 9-year counter-insurgency strategy in the
Sahel region is unravelling as popular opposition to its military
presence grows.
Maiga said the arrival of French troops in 2013 divided the country and
allowed jihadists linked to al Qaeda to regroup and continue carrying
out attacks.
"The intervention turned into a de-facto partition of Mali, which
contributed to the sanctuarisation of our territories for the terrorists
who had time to take refuge and reorganise themselves in order to come
back in force," Maiga said.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Feb/08/images/ads/current/charrons_bch_2022.png)
Without providing evidence, Maiga also alleged that France had directed
a United Nations peacekeeping plane to spy on the construction of Malian
army bases on its behalf. The U.N. mission declined to comment.
Mali on Monday expelled a journalist from the French magazine Jeune
Afrique less than 24 hours after his arrival. Authorities said he hadn't
obtained the appropriate accreditations.
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![](../images/020822PIX/news_y49.jpg)
Malian opposition leader Choguel Maiga named transitional prime
minister attends the inauguration ceremony of Colonel Assimi Goita
the new interim president in Bamako, Mali, June 7, 2021. REUTERS/Amadou
Keita/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Feb/08/images/ads/current/graue_21CAMARO_100421.png) Tensions between Europe and Mali are
nearing boiling point. Paris has suspended air travel and the
European Union has sanctioned its leaders for delaying planned
elections. Mali expelled the French ambassador last week and
demanded Danish troops from a European special forces mission leave
the country.
The spat has isolated the military-led government in Mali, which is
also under sanctions from West African nations after it said it
would not hold elections until Dec. 2025 - nearly four years later
than planned.
France maintains a significant military force in Mali's desert north
as part of a mission to combat violence by Islamist militant groups
linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, but is drawing down troops.
Meanwhile Russian military contractors and trainers have begun
arriving in Mali at the bequest of officials, and have been well
received by some.
(Reporting by Paul Lorgerie; Additional reporting by John Irish;
Writing by Cooper Inveen; Editing by Edward McAllister and Raissa
Kasolowsky)
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