Mali Did Not Issue Statement Detailing Sovereign Decisions Against France

25th January 2022

Mali Did Not Issue Statement Detailing Sovereign Decisions Against France

The EU threatened to impose sanctions on Mali (Getty).

The Claim

The Malian Ministry of territorial administration and decentralization released a statement with a number of sovereign resolutions on behalf of the government against France and its allies in the region.

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Emerging story

Facebook accounts have recently shared a statement allegedly released by the Malian ministry of territorial administration and decentralization. The statement contained a number of sovereign resolutions on behalf of the government to combat interventions by France and its allies in the region. The resolutions include cutting all diplomatic ties with France from Jan. 24, 2022, and declaring that the Bambara language will replace French as the country’s official language.

The alleged statement also includes demands for the immediate withdrawal of French troops stationed in Mali, in addition to closing the French embassy as well as all other French entities and companies based in Mali within 72 hours. The statement concluded by calling on all Mali people to stand up for their rights.

A supporting image within the article body

Description: The screenshot shows the recently circulated claim.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar’s team investigated the claim and found it fake. The Mali government did not release any statement that contained sovereign decisions against France or any other allied African country.

Having searched the website of the Malian ministry of territorial administration and decentralization and its official Facebook page, no such statement or press release was found. The last statement released by the ministry on its Facebook page was dated to Jan. 23, 2022, in which the ministry offered condolences to Mauritania on the backdrop of the loss of Mauritanian lives in Mali.

No reliable media outlet published the alleged statement.

In fact, it was France that threatened to withdraw its forces from Mali on Jan. 18 due to strained relations with Mali’s military leaders currently ruling the country during a transitional phase. The reason for France’s threat to withdraw troops was made because Mali had allowed Russia’s Wagner forces to enter the country.

The claim started to circulate following Mali’s request to review the defense agreement with France, which it described as unfair.

Mali also asked the Danish forces on Monday, Jan. 24, to leave the country, according to Reuters.

Relations between Mali and France as well as the EU have become tense because Mali delayed the elections and allowed Russia’s Wagner forces to enter the country, which prompted the EU to announce its intention to impose sanctions on the African country.

Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri