Denmark decides to pull out from anti-jihadist operation in Mali after disagreements with Bamako

Denmark has decided to repatriate its troops deployed in Mali, only one month after their arrival, following a new demand for their immediate withdrawal by the Malian junta, the head of Danish diplomacy announced on Thursday (27 January).

The Danish soldiers were on Malian soil as part of a European special forces military contingent, called Takuba, which is helping local governments fight against the "Islamic State" presence that has expanded to several countries within the Sahel region. The Malian provisional military government rejected the logic of Denmark, which had, after the first request for withdrawal last Monday, proved that their troops had been invited by former President Boubacar Keita, who was subsequently overthrown in a military coup in 2020.

After a session in Parliament on Thursday, the Danish Foreign Minister denounced the "dirty political game" of the Malian military, who he said, withdrew their invitation because they "do not want a quick way back to democracy" through the ballot box.

Indeed, the transitional government initially agreed to hold presidential and legislative elections in February 2022 amid pressure from ECOWAS. Yet the Junta outlined in the document sent to regional mediators early January their proposal to call for five more years as a transitional government.

In Mali, the coup leaders are under severe international diplomatic and economic pressure. The sharp hardening of economic and diplomatic sanctions adopted by ECOWAS - the community of West African states - against Bamako is supported by Paris, Brussels and Washington.

The EU member states that invested in the counter-terrorism military operations in the Sahel region are also irritated by the deployment of the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Mali.

This growing tension is the result of Bamako's desire to defy France, which is according to the Junta using its European allies to gain influence in the Sahel. France has thousands of troops in the region and has been the target of several demonstrations. The Malian transitional government even publicly told France to cease its "colonial reflexes" and stop interfering, after Paris tried to argue for a continued Danish presence on Malian territory.

Some observers think that by antagonising its population against France and the European mission, the Malian authorities have been stoking lingering anti colonial feelings to explain the military failings against terrorist groups in the Sahel in recent years.

Sources: CommonSpace.eu with DW News AP News and other media outlets
Picture: The Task Force Takuba is a 900 strong French-led European mission launched in March 2020 ; Twitter: @RFI_En

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

Dunya Mijatovic: "Entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians"

On March 27, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to “fully respect” its human rights obligations as a Council of Europe member state, “including with regard to the protection of the human rights of LGBTI people,” in response to the ruling party’s initiation of two draft constitutional laws on “family values and the protection of minors.” “I am concerned about the present political discourse in Georgia, as illustrated by the announcement made by the Georgian Dream Party of their initiative to amend the Constitution and to adopt a new constitutional law on ‘Protection of Family Values and Underaged Persons’. It is reflective of entrenched harmful stereotypes and prejudice against LGBTI people which still prevail in segments of Georgian society, including some politicians, and is capable of having a strong, negative impact on the human rights, safety and well-being of LGBTI people and defenders of their rights. It also represents the political manipulation of LGBTI-phobia in the run-up to elections, which I have previously condemned, and which should have no place in a democratic society, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights of everyone.