TOPIC: French Forces Depart Timbuktu as Relations Deteriorate

In a sign that France is scaling down her military commitments across the Sahel, French forces have the city of Timbuktu in northern Mali. This comes nearly nine years after a military intervention that helped suppress Islamist militants that had threatened to overrun the country. 

Nine Years Ago

The French involvement in her former colony began on February 2, 2013, when then French President, Francois Hollande announced the initiation of France's military operations in Mali. Now, Timbuktu is the location that features once again but this time for the opposite reason. On Tuesday, the Tricolour was lowered and the Malian flag hoisted in its place at the remaining military base where 150 French soldiers had remained stationed. The French General, Etienne Du Peyroux oversaw the transition of the base to Malian hand and assured his counterparts that France 'will be present in a different way.' He added that this transition has always been the aim, 'to allow Mali to take its destiny into its own hands... but always in partnership.' Now, it is Malian troops, in addition to 2,200 UN peacekeepers who will take on the role of protectors for the historic city. 

The Political Context

To those informed on the situation within Mali, this latest development will come as no surprise. France announced at the beginning of 2021 that in a years time, 2,000 troops would be withdrawn from the wider Sahel region. This decision comes due to mounting pressure, as a result of limited success in the military campaign as well as the political instability in Mali itself. 

Mali witnessed two coup attempts in the previous year, carried out by Colonel Assimi Goita, before the colonel was sworn in as President. This was supposedly on an interim basis until the security of the country was assured, with the international community setting a deadline for democratic elections by the end of February 2022. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) warned that Mali could face additional sanctions if definitive progress was not made towards the initiation of elections by February. These would come in addition to travel bans and asset freezes that ECOWAS has already placed on the coup leaders. Yet the coup-leaders say an election at this time would be unfeasible, due to the high level of instability in the nation. 

Indeed, the Malian military regime has appeared to be in trouble in recent months. Tensions with France have frayed, with French military bases already closing in Kidal and Tessalit. This is a problem for the regime, who are unable to bear the military burden of insurgencies without foreign support. As such, it was reported at one point that Malian officials had turned to the Russian mercenary group 'Wagner', but these rumours only seemed to worsen relations with Paris. For further analysis on Wagner, Mali and the Sahel in general, please see our previous article, available at:  

https://mundusreport.blogspot.com/2021/11/topic-mali-coup-leaders-cling-on-as.html 

PHOTO: FRENCH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE