Speaking from Nairobi, President Macron addressed the escalating security crisis gripping Mali, stressing that the decision to oust French forces was not in the country’s best interest.

According to Macron, recent events prove that Bamako’s military leadership failed to make the right call when it asked French troops to leave, a move that unfolded against the backdrop of worsening jihadist offensives.

Unprecedented jihadist offensive threatens Mali’s stability

Since late April, Mali has faced an intense wave of attacks spearheaded by jihadist groups and predominantly Tuareg rebel factions. These assaults have severely weakened the military junta that seized power in 2020 and 2021, with multiple regions now grappling with rising insecurity despite ongoing counter-military operations.

France’s withdrawal from Mali sparks broader regional tensions

The expulsion of French forces from Mali marked a turning point in Paris’s relationship with Bamako, a rift that soon spread to the Burkina Faso and Niger. Coups in these nations also led to the departure of French troops, further straining diplomatic ties in the Sahel region.

Over the past years, the presence of French military forces in the Sahel has become a highly divisive issue, sparking intense political and public debates across West Africa.