France ends anti-terror cooperation with Mali and expels diplomats

According to information from Le Monde, France has suspended its anti-terrorism cooperation with Mali and asked two of the country's diplomats to leave.

The move followed the arrest of the French envoy in Bamako and the escalation of tensions between the two countries. Last month, Mali arrested a French citizen for allegedly collaborating with the French secret services and accused “foreign states” of seeking to destabilize the country.

France rejected the accusations and demanded the immediate release of its diplomat, who enjoys diplomatic immunity.

Mali had previously declared five employees of the French embassy in Bamako to be “undesirable persons”; who left the country at the beginning of September. French authorities announced further measures should the arrest of their representative be extended.

Mali has been in a serious security crisis since 2012, triggered by attacks by groups with links to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as by the actions of criminal organizations.

(sie)