Russia has requested an informal meeting of the UN Security Council after Mali's decision to break its defense agreements with France, a session which was to be held on Tuesday May 3 in the middle of the day, according to diplomats.
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Read alsoMali: the UN “deeply dismayed” by the definitive suspension of France 24 and RFI
In a letter sent to the UN at the end of April, obtained by AFP, Mali denounced "
repeated and deliberate violations of national airspace by foreign aircraft, in particular by French forces, for the purpose of espionage , intimidation and subversion
”.
The missive also recalls that the government of Mali has been calling since February 18 for the immediate departure of French forces from Malian territory.
No comment on the convening of the Security Council on Tuesday could not be immediately obtained from Russia and France.
Read alsoMali: the junta “denounces” the defense agreements with France
The junta in power in Mali announced Monday evening to break the defense agreements with France and its European partners, a new manifestation of the deterioration of relations between Bamako and its former allies in the fight against the jihadists.
Originally, the withdrawal of the French military operation Barkhane from Mali was planned to take place over four to six months.
Since the end of 2021-beginning of 2022, the Malian junta has enlisted the services of the private Russian paramilitary company Wagner, on the occasion of a rapprochement with Russia.
The request for a meeting of the Security Council by Russia comes as this body must decide in June whether or not to renew its mission of blue helmets in Mali (Minusma), strong of some 14,000 soldiers and police.
At the UN,
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