Mali announced Sunday evening its withdrawal from the G5 Sahel and its anti-jihadist military force to protest against its refusal to assume the presidency of this regional organization formed with Mauritania, Chad, Burkina and Niger.
“The government of Mali decides to withdraw from all organs and bodies of the G5 Sahel, including the Joint Force” anti-jihadist, the statement said. The G5 Sahel was created in 2014 and its anti-jihadist force launched in 2017.
Ruling junta upsets Mali’s neighbors
A conference of G5 Sahel heads of state scheduled for February 2022 in Bamako was to “dedicate the start of the Malian presidency of the G5” but “nearly a quarter after the indicated term” this meeting “has still not been held “says this press release. Bamako “firmly rejects the argument of a member state of the G5 Sahel which advances the national internal political situation to oppose the exercise by Mali of the presidency of the G5 Sahel”, without citing this state.
According to the Malian government, “the opposition of certain G5 Sahel states to the presidency of Mali is linked to the maneuvers of an extra-regional state desperately aiming to isolate Mali”, without also specifying the latter state.
Since January 9, Mali has been targeted by a series of economic and diplomatic measures by West African states to sanction the junta’s intention to stay in power for several more years, after two putschs in August 2020 and then in May 2021. junta has opted for a two-year transition while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is asking Bamako to organize elections in 16 months maximum.