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French soldiers had, in any case, planned to permanently leave the country by the end of summer. But this decision could complicate the end of this disengagement, marking especially another breaking point in relations between the military junta in power in Bamako and French authorities.
For Sory Ibrahima Traoré, president of the Front for Emergence and Renewal in Mali (FER-Mali), this "decision is justified" and "understandable", he says, heading a political organization that supports the transitional authorities.
This decision is not a surprise, since for some time, political and military relations between Mali and France have been very problematic. Suspicion was truly at its peak. So we and the Malian people in general were prepared for this rupture. This rupture is justified and it is a rupture that is understandable, desired and supported by a majority of the Malian people.
For Sory Ibrahima Traoré, president of FER-Mali, this "decision is justified"
Abdoulaye Coulibaly does not share this opinion. The president of the Initiative for the Implementation of the People's Expectations (Icap), a party member of the Framework that brings together movements opposed to the current Malian transitional authorities, deplores a position that should have been left to "the next government, democratically elected".
This transition has no legitimacy to break agreements signed by a democratically elected government. This government does not represent Malians, so I think that if it truly wanted to break agreements with France, it should leave this question to the next government, a democratically elected government. It is very dangerous because today we need all our partners, including France and all others, given the growing insecurity, and it is even more dangerous because it is not the role of the transition to break these agreements. We must remember that it is France that liberated Mali and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the French, Malian and soldiers from other nations who sacrificed themselves to liberate Mali. The slogan you see today in Mali, "down with France", does not sincerely represent Malians.
For Icap president Abdoulaye Coulibaly, this position should have been left "to the next government, democratically elected"
Bamako and Paris would benefit from a smooth departure
For Ivoirian Arthur Banga, teaching researcher at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan, the situation can generate complications. But this defense specialist nonetheless believes that both parties have an interest in the departure of the French army proceeding without incident.
According to researcher Arthur Banga, Paris and Bamako have an interest in a troop withdrawal without incident
