Mali’s Interim PM bans French-backed NGOs amidst high tension with France

BAMAKO - Mali’s interim Prime Minister Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga has banned all French-funded Non-Governmental Organizations including humanitarian groups, amid a worsening row between Paris and Bamako from operating in the country.

This new move is a response to Paris's decision to cut development aid to the African nation.

The West African nation's interim Prime Minister Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga justified the move in a statement shared on social media on Monday, calling it a response to France's recent halt to development aid for Mali.

The French Foreign Ministry said last week it had made the decision, which came three months after finalizing its pull-out of forces from the country, over Bamako's alleged use of paramilitaries from Russian group Wagner.

However, Mali’s government denies the allegations citing only the support of Russian military "instructors".

Maiga spoke in his statement of "fanciful allegations" and "subterfuge intended to deceive and manipulate national and international public opinion for the purpose of destabilizing and isolating Mali".

"As a result, the transitional government has decided to ban, with immediate effect, all activities carried out by NGOs operating in Mali with funding or material or technical support from France, including in the humanitarian field," it said.

Last week a Foreign Ministry source said France would maintain its humanitarian aid as well as financing for "civil society organizations" in Mali

Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop last month warns France against violating Mali's airspace and delivering arms to militants who have been fighting in the West African country for the past 10 years, accusations Paris calls "defamatory".

Mali reserves the right to exercise its right to self-defense “if France continues to undermine the sovereignty of our country," says FM Diop
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council briefing on Mali in New York, Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop repeated allegations that Paris had violated its airspace and delivered arms to militants who have been waging an offensive in northern Mali for the past decade.

"There needs to be a specific meeting of the Security Council which will make it possible for us to bring to light evidence regarding duplicitous acts, acts of espionage, and acts of destabilization waged by France," Diop said.

"The government of Mali reserves the right to exercise its right to self-defense… if France continues to undermine the sovereignty of our country and to undermine its territorial integrity and its national security," he added.

GAROWE ONLINE