Colonel Assimi Goïta is a Malian military officer who has served as interim President of Mali since 24 May 2021 (Credit: VOA (Moctar Barry)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Mali has expelled the French ambassador for France’s “lack of respect” in the wake of remarks made by foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. French envoy in Mali Joel Meyer has been given 72 hours to leave the country. According to the Mali government, the action was taken after “hostile and outrageous” remarks by France. French foreign minister Le Drian blaste Mali’s military government, declaring that the military junta was “illegitimate” and “out of control”. Le Drian claimed Russian Wagner mercenaries are operating in Mali. Mali’s military leader Colonel Assimi Goita is the transitional president of Mali. Goïta was the leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, a military junta that seized power from former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in the 2020 Malian coup d’état. Goïta later took power from Bah Ndaw after the 2021 Malian coup d’état and has since been constitutionally declared interim president of Mali.
Le Mali ordonne le départ de l’ambassadeur français sous 72 heures
Le gouvernement militaire de transition malien a demandé lundi à l’ambassadeur de France au Mali de quitter le pays sous 72 heures.
Foreign Minister Le Drian said Mali junta “illegitimate” and “out of control”
French foreign minister Le Drian.
Le ministre malien des Affaires étrangères Abdoulaye Diop
Abdoulaye Diop, chef de la diplomatie du Mali, juge “inacceptables” les déclaration de Paris
Le ministre malien des Affaires étrangères Abdoulaye Diop a accordé depuis Bruxelles un entretien exclusif à France 24 et RFI. Il a réagi aux propos de son homologue français Jean-Yves Le Drian qui a qualifié la junte au pouvoir “d’illégitime” : pour lui, ces propos sont “plein de mépris et inacceptables”. Paris se prête, selon Abdoulaye Diop, à un “deux poids, deux mesures” en Afrique, applaudissant ou condamnant les coups d’État en fonction des intérêts français.
