France in Talks with Mali Over Arrest of Embassy Employee Accused of ‘Destabilisation’
Paris, The Gulf Observer: France’s foreign ministry announced on Saturday that it is in discussions with Malian authorities regarding the arrest of a French national accused of working with intelligence services to destabilise the country, dismissing the allegations as “unjustified.”
“Discussions are underway to clear up any misunderstanding” and secure the “immediate release” of the French embassy employee detained in Bamako, the ministry said in a statement.
Malian authorities had announced on Thursday that the French citizen was arrested on suspicion of collaborating with French intelligence services. The junta also accused “foreign states” of attempting to destabilise the country. In a separate move, it reported that dozens of soldiers had been detained for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.
France’s foreign ministry stressed that the arrested individual is protected under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which requires host states to respect the privileges and immunities of diplomatic and consular staff.
Mali, one of the world’s poorest nations, has been plagued by a protracted security crisis since 2012, driven by jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as local armed groups and criminal networks.
Since coming to power in consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021, the military junta led by President Assimi Goïta has increasingly distanced itself from Western partners, particularly France, while strengthening political and military ties with Russia under the banner of national sovereignty.
