Malian authorities have summoned France’s Envoy to the country to register its indignation at French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent criticism of the country’s government, which is dominated by army figures.
It was gathered that tensions between France and its former colony Mali has been high since it emerged that the Sahel state is in talks with Russian mercenaries.
These frustrations were on full display at the UN General Assembly last month, when Mali’s interim Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maiga accused France of abandonment in full flight over its decision to reduce its military deployment in the semi-arid Sahel region.
Macron later told French media that Maiga’s comments were “unacceptable” and suggested that Mali’s government was not even really one, because of the coup in Mali led by Colonel Assimi Goita in May.
The war of words continued on Tuesday when Macron called on Mali’s ruling military to restore state authority in large areas of the country abandoned in the face of the armed uprising.
