France withdraws forces from Mali, says operation in Sahel still ongoing

It has been six long months since France experienced a nightmare at the hands of its former colony, Mali. The new Malian transitional government no longer needs the services of France that has been in the country for the past 9 years.

The tense diplomatic relations with the country since the ascension to power in 2020 of military rule. The new transitional military government refused to restore civilian rule despite sanctions from ECOWAS.

But France could not withstand the pressure and in February 2022, Emmanuel Macron announced that French troops will begin leaving Mali. The Miliatry regime despite wanting France to leave said the withdrawal of troops is a violation of bilateral corporation between the two countries.

When Macron announced that he will withdraw his troops, the military junta asked the troops under Operation Barkhane and the Takuba Task Force to leave without delay. The military regime argued that Macron took the decision without consulting them, hence violating the accord between the two countries.

Did Mali really want France to stay?

It is no secret that the new Miliatry regime wanted France out of the diplomatic way and expected a partner that was going to respect the regime in place. In January 2022, the military junta dismissed the French Ambassador to Mali, responding to the French foreign affairs Minister’s description of the new government as “illegitimate”.

Though France has left Mali, the country has promised to continue fighting jihadists in the Sahel region with “her partners”

Mali is also close to Russian mercenaries, the Wagner security group with an accord signed between them. Members of the group have been spotted fighting insurgents in Mali. French interest in Mali has become compromised after the arrival of Russia, a historical rival of France in world politics, diplomacy, and gun power.

Anti-French sentiment has also been an important point in the departure of the former colonial masters. Malians have stormed streets calling for the departure of the French whom they accused of causing more trouble than fighting jihadists.

In less than five years, France has had a loose grip on two of its former colonies; the Central African Republic and Mali, where the main challenger in these two places is Russia.

In other Francophone African countries like Guinea, Cameroon, and Benin, the anti-French sentiment is rising among the population and has a strong impact online. The governments of these countries are also looking elsewhere for new partners, thereby reducing the extent of their collaboration with France.