Christoph Soeder
A letter from the French Ministry of Defense said that the French news agency AFP reported on Thursday that guarantees for the political transition are being awaited. Advisory missions are also to be temporarily suspended.
Last week, the military in Mali overthrew the transitional government, which should be in office until the 2022 presidential election. Putschist leader Assimi Goïta was proclaimed the new interim president.
The former colonial power France is in massive action against Islamist militias in West Africa; Mali is a focus. The French operation “Barkhane” includes up to 5100 soldiers. The Bundeswehr has also stationed several hundred soldiers in Mali. A number of armed groups are active in the states of the Sahel zone – an area that stretches south of the Sahara from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. Some have sworn allegiance to the terrorist groups Islamic State (IS) or Al Qaeda.
French President Emmanuel Macron had threatened the withdrawal of his country’s troops if Mali turned towards radical Islamism after the coup.
The African Union and the West African Economic Community Ecowas have suspended Mali’s membership and are calling for the appointment of a new civilian head of state. The French Ministry of Defense referred to the requirements for the transition and “red lines” that the organizations would have shown.