France to reduce the number of diplomatic staff in Mali
France announced on Friday its decision to modify its diplomatic and consular structure in Mali by reducing the number of its staff, in light of the deteriorating security situation in the country.
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the decision was taken in light of the current situation, and similar to what a number of partners have initiated, referring to the United States and the United Kingdom, which have evacuated their non-essential staff without specifying their number.
France hasn’t changed its instructions to the estimated 4,000 French in Mali since it called on them on November 7 to prepare to leave temporarily “as soon as possible via available flights”.
Due to the situation related to the fuel crisis, several Western countries have recently called on their citizens to leave Mali immediately, warning of the repercussions of attacks by armed groups and the blockade they are imposing on fuel supplies.
Later, the United States praised the Malian armed forces in their ongoing battle against the group, Jama’a Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimin (JNIM) during talks between US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.
On the other hand, Germany announced that it would “continue to stand by the Malian people,” as it has done “for 65 years, in a spirit of mutual respect, trust and enduring partnership”.
In early September, the Massina Brigade announced a blockade on fuel imports to Mali, and attacked convoys of tankers loaded with this substance that were trying to enter the country or reach the capital.
Authorities announced the suspension of education for two weeks, before resuming it later, and life returned to normal in Bamako after the Malian army secured the entry of hundreds of trucks loaded with fuel.
