The Malian junta took note of the French military withdrawal on Friday, while affirming that France was jointly responsible for the situation in the country plagued by jihadism and violence, and that the situation would be better after its departure.
This is the first official reaction published in Bamako four days after the announcement of the departure of the last soldier of the French anti-jihadist force Barkhane on Monday.
Tensions with France
The military-dominated government that came to power in a putsch in 2020
"takes note of this final withdrawal
," said its spokesman, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, in a statement.
He
"reassures the Malian population (as to the fact) that, thanks to the rise of the valiant Malian armed forces, more success will be achieved against terrorist groups (and that) the security of the populations will be considerably improved".
"The deterioration of the security situation in Mali and in the Sahel is an immediate consequence of the intervention of France and its allies in Libya,"
he said, referring to the regional effect of the multinational intervention conducted in 2011. The departure of the last French soldier after nine years of engagement against the jihadists completes the noisy deterioration of relations between Mali and France under the junta.
Malian authorities have since turned to Russia for military support.
Defense Minister Colonel Sadio Camara visited Russia this week, where he was still on Friday.
Friday's statement makes no mention of this alliance but says the government is ready to cooperate
"with all states in the world"
against terrorism, provided that national sovereignty and interests are respected.