In statements on the sidelines of his visit to Senegal, Blinken said that the United States is contributing to efforts with Mali and partners to support stability in the African country, which is in a state of war.
“I can only add that it would be unfortunate that external elements were involved that could make things more difficult and complicated, and I am thinking in particular of the Wagner Group.”
And Blinken added that he had agreed with Senegalese officials to pressure Mali to fulfill its pledge to transition to democracy, stressing that his country would offer advantages in exchange for such a move.
Once a democratically elected government comes to power, Blinken noted, the international community will be ready for financial support.
change strategy
On the other hand, France decided to change the strategy of the military presence in Mali, by sending reconnaissance patrols from the “Dragon” infantry division of the French army to the northeastern regions of Mali.
Informed sources revealed to “Sky News Arabia” that a patrol of 30 soldiers from the “Dragon Division”, in addition to armored vehicles, left for the center of the city of Gao, with the aim of reconnaissance and providing security support to the residents.
The sources indicated that the tour lasted for more than 3 hours, during which the French soldiers spoke to the residents of the city, which witnesses the largest presence of French forces in the West Coast region of Africa, and which Paris is preparing to evacuate before the beginning of 2022, after the evacuation and delivery of the Kidal, Tasalit and Timbuktu bases in the north of the country. To the Malian army, within the framework of ending the “Barkhane” military operation.
Aqila Debeshi, director of the French Center for Research and International Policy Analysis, said, in a statement to “Sky News Arabia”, that despite talk about France easing its interference in the Sahel region in general and Mali in particular, the “Barkhane” force is still operating in the region. The Sahel, and fighting terrorism is its primary goal, and it is still doing it.
Aqeela added that Paris will continue to do so until terrorism is eliminated and the role is handed over to the forces of the Sahel countries in the event that they have the ability to play this role, without the support of the French forces there.. This is also one of France’s goals for the Sahel countries to be stable and enjoy security.
The relationship between Paris and Bamako had been greatly strained after France announced last June its intention to end the military operation “Barkhane”, integrate with European partners in the “Takuba” operation to combat terrorism in the Sahel region, and evacuate its three bases in the far north of Mali to concentrate its forces near the border. With Niger and Burkina Faso.. France’s plan provides for reducing the number of its forces from five thousand soldiers currently to about 2500 to 3000 by 2023.
Tensions between France and Mali increased with the speech of the latter’s Prime Minister, Shogul Kokala Maiga, before the United Nations General Assembly, in which he accused France of abandoning his country in the middle of the road with its decision to withdraw the “Barkhane” force, justifying his country’s search for “other partners”, including Russian private companies.
The Malian Prime Minister explained that the new situation that has arisen due to the end of “Barkhane”, put Mali before a fait accompli and exposes it to what looks like giving up in the middle of the road, and leads to the exploration of ways and means to better ensure security with other partners, to fill the void that will inevitably arise from closing Some of the “Barkhane” sites in northern Mali – in reference to the “Wagner” elements, criticizing the Paris declaration of the decision unilaterally without tripartite coordination with the United Nations and the Bamako government.
.