During a recent visit to Nairobi, President Macron addressed the deteriorating security situation in Mali, stating that recent events prove the junta’s decision to oust French forces was ill-advised. French troops had been stationed in Mali until 2022 as part of a regional counterterrorism effort targeting Islamist extremist groups.

Unprecedented jihadist offensive weakens Bamako’s grip

Since late April, Mali has faced a sweeping offensive led by jihadist factions and predominantly Tuareg rebel groups. The escalation has severely undermined the junta’s authority, which seized power in the 2020 and 2021 coups. Despite ongoing military operations, multiple regions remain mired in deepening instability.

Paris and the Sahel: a rift that continues to widen

The expulsion of French troops from Mali marked a pivotal break in relations between Paris and Bamako. This divide has since spread to Burkina Faso and Niger, where successive coups have also led to the withdrawal of French soldiers. Over the past several years, France’s military presence in the Sahel has become a lightning rod for political and public tensions across the region.