Florence Parly: "France is not in Mali at all costs", while the Danes withdraw, Italy maintains its position

"France cannot maintain a military presence in Mali at all costs". The French Minister of Defense said so, Florence Parley, during a radio interview.

“What we want is to be able to continue the fight against terrorism because this is not the end of the fightterrorism is also conquering the border states of Mali”, Emphasized the minister.

After the second coup d'etat on 25 May last, the current military junta is creating many problems and it is for this reason, Palry specifies, that it is necessary “Evaluate the conditions of our intervention, be they military, economic or political, because they have become increasingly difficult". 

"Today Mali is governed by a junta, which is the result of a double coup whose legitimacy is therefore questionable", Parly said, according to which these military stand “Clearly trying to keep power for as long as possible. We only intervened because a sovereign state asked us ", Parly said, “We are not like the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.  We are not mercenaries, we are not paid". 

The Danish withdrawal

Denmark will begin withdrawing its troops from Mali after the West African country's transitional junta government this week insisted on an immediate withdrawal, a blow to France.

The decision, following the tensions between Mali and its international partners, including regional bodies and the European Union, which sanctioned Mali because the military junta, despite promises, has not yet organized the elections.

Tensions have also increased because Mali has hired mercenaries from the Russian group Wagner, which has been blacklisted by the US and the international community due to heavy allegations of human rights violations.

Last Thursday the foreign minister Jeppe kofod told the press: "The Malian transitional government, or the coup generals, released a public statement last night in which they reiterated once again that Denmark is not welcome in Mali, and obviously we will not stand it, so we have decided to withdraw. our soldiers at home ".

Denmark sent 105 military personnel to Mali last January to join the European special forces mission known as Takuba, which was set up to help Mali counter Islamic militias. Although the Danish government claimed that its troops had deployed after a "Clear invitation" of Mali, the military junta said, however, that it was surprised by the Danish presence, because a decision on Denmark's request to deploy troops had yet to be taken.

The withdrawal of Denmark, which comes after the deployment of Sweden, scheduled for next March, is a big problem for France, which had focused so much on the Europeanization of its military initiative in the Sahel, in order to continue to gradually withdraw its troops (Paris from 10000 to 5500 current soldiers). 

The junta's decision to ask Denmark to leave will likely have an impact on future deployments, with Norway, Hungary, Portugal, Romania e Lithuania which are expected to send troops this year.

Norway, Portugal and Hungary they are still awaiting approval to deploy their special forces, the junta said.

Italy in the Sahel

Our country is present in that territory with the “Bilateral support mission in the Republic of Niger MISIN"(With the geographical area of ​​intervention also extended to Mauritania, Nigeria and Benin) in order to increase the capacities aimed at combating the phenomenon of illegal trafficking and security threats, as part of a joint European and US effort for the stabilization of area and the strengthening of territorial control capacities by the Nigerian authorities and the G5 Sahel countries.

The mission, commanded by the pilot colonel of the Air Force, Davide Cipelletti, in addition to border and territory control, it supports the Nigerian authorities and the G5 Sahel countries (Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Burkina Faso), to develop the capabilities of the Nigerian security forces (Armed Forces, National Gendarmerie, Guardia National and Special Forces of the Republic of Niger).

Since January 2018, the Italian contingent has provided over two hundred courses in favor of about six thousand attendees. MISIN, through its CIMIC function (Civil-Military Cooperation, civil-military collaboration) has also supported the Embassy of Italy in Niger in the donations of medicines, first reception facilities, health facilities and equipment for the prevention and treatment of the most common pathologies in the country.

About 200 militar Italians, on the other hand, operated within the TF Takuba, guaranteeing medical evacuation capabilities of coalition personnel in operation through the use of the 3 CH 47 F transport aircraft of theArmy, in medevac configuration that make use of the necessary safety framework ensured by the 3 exploration and escort helicopters AH - 129D "Mangusta", of the 5th and 7th regiments of the Army Aircraft Brigade, framed in the Task Force “Jacana".

Florence Parly: "France is not in Mali at all costs", while the Danes withdraw, Italy maintains its position