In a press release published this Sunday, May 28, the transitional government denounces a series of accusations “operated without foundation” against Mali by the administration of US President Joe Biden. The US decision to impose visa restrictions last week on the commander of the 33e parachute commando regiment, and the acting commander of the Autonomous Special Forces Battalion (BAFS) has raised tension between the two countries.
The US government’s decision “undermines the presumption of innocence” of the two senior Malian officers. In its press release, the Malian government considers that the decision is “unfair and baseless” because it was taken on the basis of the disputed UN report on Moura. Also, the government deplores the “public” form of the announcement.
In flexible terms, Bamako suspects Washington of wanting to “discredit” the entire military institution of Mali. As proof, Bamako underlines the accusation formulated, on May 22, by the Spokesperson of the American State Department, on an “alleged role that Mali would have played to facilitate the supply of weapons” to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner in Ukraine. Heard on the question, the ambassador of the United States could not provide the slightest proof, no more than the spokesperson who had specified “to date, we have no indication that these acquisitions have been finalized or completed”.
To these actions, the Malian government adds the refusal of the United States of America to “deliver in 2021, a plane of the Malian air force “le casa” nevertheless acquired on own funds by the government of Mali. By virtue of its actions, Bamako says to itself “upset by these American actions which negatively impact bilateral cooperation, at a time when Mali is stubbornly fighting against the French junta, promoter of terrorism in the Sahel”.
” Two weights, two measures “
According to the Malian government, the United States claims to act for the defense of human rights. Yet the government does not understand the “disturbing silence” of the United States, following the bombardment by France, on January 3, 2021, of peaceful Malian citizens who were celebrating a wedding in Bounti, despite the responsibility of France having been established. by MINUSMA. In the press release, the government “strongly rejects the instrumentalization and politicization of human rights for geopolitical purposes and denounces the policy of “double standards”.
Reminding the United States of its active role in the situation in the Sahel through its military intervention in Libya, Mali asks the American government “to stop the disinformation campaign against Mali”, and invites it to respect the sovereignty of the mali.
Mamadou Togola – The Best of Mamadou Togola
