France says Mali’s alliance with Russia has failed to solve insecurity
France’s foreign ministry has said Mali’s decision to replace Western security partnerships with Russian-backed forces has failed to deliver stability, as Islamist militants tighten their grip on the country.
Since seizing power in 2021, Mali’s military ruler, Assimi Goïta, has expelled French and U.S. troops, turning instead to Russia for support in fighting Islamist insurgents. However, security conditions have continued to deteriorate.
A two-month fuel blockade imposed by al-Qaeda-linked militants has nearly crippled the capital, Bamako, raising fears that jihadists could attempt to seize full control of the city.
France voices concern
Although France announced in September that it had suspended counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told Reuters that Paris is following the security situation in Mali with “a great deal of attention and genuine concern.”
“What I could add is that we can see that the contested presence of Russia, or forces associated with it in Mali, does not in any way ensure the security of
Malian women and men,” he said.
France had maintained a military presence in the Sahel for nearly a decade after intervening in 2012 at Mali’s request to stop militants from advancing on Bamako.
However, a surge in anti-French sentiment, partly amplified by Russian influence campaigns, led Paris to withdraw its troops.
France still operates an embassy in Bamako, primarily focused on consular services for about 4,000 French nationals. “Their safety remains one of our top priorities,” Confavreux added.