Mali’s military junta announced Monday a ban on the activities of French NGOs following the French government’s decision to halt development aid to the African country, in a new episode of political tension between Paris and Bamako.
The Malian government considers that the French authorities are making «fanciful» and «unfounded» accusations, for example concerning the junta’s collusion with Russia and in particular with the Wagner Group, a network of mercenaries linked to the Kremlin.
For the African country, Paris’ objective is to «manipulate» public opinion and ultimately contribute to the «destabilization» of Mali. In this regard, it has demanded «respect» for its sovereignty and its right to choose its own international allies.
«Consequently, the Transitional Government decides to prohibit, with immediate effect, all activities conducted by NGOs operating in Mali with French funding or technical support, including in the humanitarian field,» reads the official note.
This new escalation comes after French President Emmanuel Macron made official the end of the ‘Barkhane’ operation in the Sahel, amid the withdrawal of international troops due to tensions with the military junta over its postponements of elections following the August 2020 and May 2021 coups d’état.
