France has suspended its counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats, marking a significant escalation in the bilateral rift. This decision comes in response to Mali’s arrest of a French national, Yann Vezilier, accused of plotting a coup—a claim Paris firmly denies as unfounded. Both nations have since declared each other’s diplomats persona non grata, deepening the diplomatic standoff. Once close partners in the fight against jihadist groups, the two nations have seen relations sour since Mali’s 2021 coup, with the junta under Assimi Goita turning to Russia for security support. As the diplomatic crisis deepens, France has warned of further measures if its detained national is not swiftly released. This tense standoff threatens to impact regional security efforts in the Sahel, where Mali continues to grapple with a longstanding jihadist insurgency.
Aljazeera
