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The European Union wants to continue its military missions in Mali, but "not at any cost"

2022-01-13T13:23:04.418Z


The European Union wishes to continue its military training missions in Mali but "not at any cost", warned the head of the ...


The European Union wishes to continue its military training missions in Mali but "

not at any cost

", warned the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell on Thursday, while the Malian junta refuses to organize quickly elections to return power to civilians.

To read also Mali: "Wagner is there to support the junta", accuses Paris

"

We want to stay engaged in Mali, we want to stay engaged in the Sahel, but that should not be done at any cost

," he warned during a press conference on the sidelines of an informal meeting. EU Defense Ministers in Brest (western France), with France holding the rotating six-monthly presidency of the European Union.

"

For the moment our training and advice missions to the Malian armed forces and internal security will continue

" through the EUTM, "

but we have already suspended budgetary aid to the Malian authorities as soon as we knew that the elections were not going to take place

, ”he recalled.

"No sign of progress"

"

Despite all the warnings to the Malian authorities, we see no sign of progress

," he lamented. "

We will closely monitor the situation and take measures (...) along the same lines

" as the heavy sanctions by the West African leaders gathered within the Economic Community of West African States ( Cédéao), he commented, confirming the preparation of European sanctions against the Malian junta announced Wednesday to AFP by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.

In mid-December, the European Union temporarily suspended its training mission for the Central African armed forces, due to "

control exercised by the mercenaries of the Wagner company

", which the Europeans now accuse of establishing themselves in Mali to support the junta. .

"

We are discussing (...) under what conditions this fight against terrorism for which we are mobilized can continue

", added the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, present alongside Josep Borrell, by considering "

urgent that the political transition be completed

”.

Read also Mali: Emmanuel Macron affirms France's support for West African sanctions against the junta

France, militarily present in Mali for nine years to fight against the jihadists, is in the process of reducing its troops there while maintaining troops in northern Mali in Gao, Ménaka and Gossi. However, “

this cooperation only makes sense if it fits into a more global framework (...) with fundamental reforms, particularly in governance. This work is only possible with legitimate authorities,

”added Florence Parly, avoiding commenting on whether or not to maintain French forces. Asked about the fact that Bamako had denounced the day before a "

violation of the airspace of Mali

" by a French military plane, Florence Parly affirmed that the closure of theairspace decided by ECOWAS "

does not concern military flights

In the eyes of France.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-01-13

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