Mali has suspended military cooperation with France, following a month-long diplomatic spat triggered by the arrest of a French national accused of complicity in a coup attempt against the Malian junta. The individual, identified as Yann Vezilier, was taken into custody alongside two army generals and eight other people. Malian authorities alleged that Vezilier was acting on behalf of France’s spy agency.
France protested the arrest, claiming that Vezilier was an accredited member of its embassy in Bamako and that the accusations against him were unfounded. The French foreign ministry asserted that Vezilier’s detention violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In response to the arrest, France has halted counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats, who have been given until Saturday to leave the country.
Mali has retaliated by expelling five staff members of the French embassy, who departed Bamako on Sunday, according to a French diplomatic source. This diplomatic fallout marks the latest strain in relations between Mali and its former colonial power. In 2022, Mali severed military ties with France and has since turned to Russia for support.
The country is currently battling a violent Islamist insurgency in its north, alongside neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Niger. The insurgents have recently attempted to impose an economic blockade by attacking a key supply route to Senegal, which serves as Mali’s primary gateway to the sea. The suspension of military cooperation between Mali and France may exacerbate the security challenges facing the region.
The diplomatic tensions between Mali and France have significant implications for regional counterterrorism efforts. The cooperation between the two countries has been crucial in combating the Islamist insurgency, which has caused widespread instability and violence in the Sahel region. The current standoff may undermine the progress made in recent years and create an opportunity for extremist groups to regroup and launch new attacks. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the diplomatic rift will affect the security landscape in the region.