Mali Orders Expulsion of French Ambassador
Mali said it is expelling the French ambassador because of "hostile and outrageous" comments by former colonial power France about Mali's transitional government.
A
statement read on national television Monday said French Ambassador Joel Meyer
has been given 72 hours to leave the country.
"This
measure follows the hostile and outrageous comments made recently by the French
Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the recurrence of such comments by
the French authorities with regard to the Malian authorities, despite repeated
protests," the statement said.
French
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said last week that Mali's junta was
"illegitimate and takes irresponsible measures." He also described
the junta as "out of control."
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday that it would recall Meyer from Mali.
Relations
between Mali and France deteriorated this month after the junta went back on an
agreement to organize elections in February. Instead, the junta has proposed
staying in power for up to another five years.
European
nations have also expressed concern that Mali's interim government has accepted
private Russian security contractors.
France
has had troops in Mali since 2013 when it sent forces at the request of Malian
leaders to stop Islamist militants who were advancing on the capital. The
latest dispute raises questions about whether French troops will remain in the
country.
Last week, Mali's junta demanded that Denmark withdraw its newly arrived contingent of soldiers to Mali. The junta accused Denmark of deploying without authorization, a charge Copenhagen denied.
Denmark's
foreign minister said Friday that it supports France in the latest diplomatic
dispute.
"Reports
the French Ambassador has been declared Persona Non Grata by Mali transitional
authorities are unacceptable. Denmark stands in full solidarity with
France," Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said in a tweet on Friday.
Mali's interim leader Assimi Goita seized power in August 2020 citing widespread popular dissatisfaction toward elected leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. However, less than a year later in May 2021, Goita overthrew the transitional government that he helped set up, citing a Cabinet reshuffle that excluded two key military leaders.
Goita
claimed the move violated the terms of the new government. French President
Emmaneul Macron called the action "a coup within a coup."
Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.
VOA
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