Ekeomah Atuonwu
In the latest tussle between Paris and Bamako, Mali’s Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga has accused France of attempting to split the West African country during its military mission there.
Maiga blasted France, the former colonial power and a prominent opponent of the military administration that appointed him, in a 45-minute speech to diplomats gathered at his request on Monday.
Maiga, on the other hand, stopped short of calling for France’s anti-militant troops in Mali to leave.
Tensions have been rising since French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the junta for failing to adhere to a timeline for returning to civilian rule.
Mali’s denunciations of France intensified after the West African bloc ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali’s military rule on January 9.
He admitted that France’s military intervention in 2013 had put an end to a militant insurrection that had already taken control of the country’s north and was threatening the south.
But, he contended, the French effort subsequently devolved into a de facto split of the country.
According to Maiga, the terrorists were permitted to take refuge in a portion of Mali’s territory, regroup, and return in force in 2014.
In collaboration with its EU partners, France has already stated that it is reviewing the future of the anti-militant force after Mali expelled its ambassador last week.
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