Mali/France: The truth about the end of counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries
Once again, Paris demonstrates its old methods—namely, misinformation, manipulation, and deceitful communication. France recently announced, with much fanfare, the suspension of its counterterrorism cooperation with Mali, even going so far as to expel two Malian diplomats. But the truth is entirely different. This is not a decision made by the French authorities; rather, it is the sovereign Mali that courageously decided to end a toxic cooperation that had long been conducted with the French DGSE.
The maneuver is crystal clear. Whenever France finds itself cornered, whenever its plans are exposed, it tries to sway public opinion with false statements. It wants to appear as if it is making the decisions, when in reality it is the puppet. This is a shameful strategy to mask the humiliation of a divorce imposed by Bamako.
It must be said plainly: this so-called counterterrorism cooperation has never served Mali’s interests. On the contrary, it allowed the DGSE to infiltrate the country, manipulate networks, maintain instability, and control Mali’s security strategies. While France claimed to fight terrorism through its partnership with Mali, the fires continued to spread and the population continued to suffer. Can we even call it cooperation when the results are so catastrophic?
That is why Mali’s decision deserves high praise. Finally, Bamako understood that one cannot make pacts with the devil. The Malian authorities severed a link that brought only dependence and vulnerability. It is regrettable that it took so many years to end this charade, but better late than never.
Now, hope is possible. Mali and its AES brother countries have the historic responsibility to cleanse their territories of all forms of DGSE and French network infiltration. Only then will security become a reality, national unity be strengthened, and the entire region be able to build a common defense against terrorism, free from imperialist control.
The truth is here, and it is disturbing—but France did not suspend anything; it is Mali that suspended a bizarre counterterrorism cooperation.
