France ends assistance to Mali

Brussels 17.11.2022 France has suspended development assistance to Mali after concluding its move to end its 10-year military presence in the country, a foreign ministry source told the AFP news agency.

Germany is deciding whether to completely pull out of the UN's MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali. Britain and Ivory Coast already said they would withdraw their troops.

https://t.co/LLA8VZkqh3

— DW News (@dwnews) November 17, 2022

French mass-media quoted the foreign affairs ministry as announcing it had suspended aid over the “attitude of the Malian junta allied to the Russian Wagner mercenaries”.

Britain will pull out its 300 troops from a UN peacekeeping force in #Mali following similar withdrawals this year by other Western nations #UK https://t.co/fVu66pOicx

— The Africa Report (@TheAfricaReport) November 15, 2022

The decision was said to have been taken “two to three weeks ago”.

A group of French NGOs are said to have denounced the decision in a letter sent to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, calling on him to review the position.

#Mali military coup and the presence of Wagner Group mercenaries prompts France to suspend development aid to the country – https://t.co/g24QVPdfHF pic.twitter.com/YyyR4N7Hht

— ADF Magazine (@ADFmagazine) November 18, 2022

According to the NGOs, the suspension of aid jeopardises dozens of development projects that are under way or planned in the country over the coming years.

#Britain to withdraw troops from #Mali

Britain to withdraw troops from Mali
UK force of about 250 has been part of #UN mission https://t.co/Eoj76YWid2

— Lucas Webber (@LucasADWebber) November 14, 2022

This suspension comes amid the increasing isolation of Mali.

The UK on Monday said it would withdraw its 300 troops deployed in support of the UN peacekeeping mission there, a decision prompted by the junta’s partnership with the controversial Russian group Wagner.