France has suspended counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats, the French foreign ministry said Friday.
- France has suspended counterterrorism cooperation with Mali over diplomatic tensions.
- A French national detained in Mali was accused of espionage, allegations rejected by France.
- This incident highlights the deteriorating France-Mali relations since Mali’s junta turned to Russia for security assistance.
- Both nations have since expelled diplomats in reciprocal diplomatic moves.
France has suspended counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats, the French foreign ministry said Friday.
The move follows the arrest in August of a French national in Bamako, whom Malian authorities accused the detained French national of being an intelligence operative tasked with recruiting soldiers and civil society figures to undermine the state.
Authorities in Bamako alleged that the man had been working for French intelligence services and claimed that “foreign states” were attempting to destabilise the country, Reuters reported.
Paris has rejected the accusations, insisting the man was an embassy staff member and dismissing the charges as unfounded. He was detained alongside two Malian generals and accused of involvement in a destabilisation plot.
The French move stresses the sharp decline in relations between Paris and Bamako.
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Mali’s shift toward Russia deepens rift with France
Tensions have deepened in recent years, with Mali’s junta severing military cooperation with France in 2022 and pivoting to Russia as its principal security partner.
In March, Bamako followed fellow Alliance of Sahel States (AES) members, including Niger, in withdrawing from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
In a tit-for-tat escalation, Mali expelled five French diplomats, while Paris ordered two Malian embassy staff to leave France.
