Copenhagen Denmark’s foreign minister said Denmark would withdraw a small military force from northern Mali after saying that the interim government of West African countries was not allowed to deploy in northern Mali. Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod announced his withdrawal on Thursday following a briefing on the Foreign Policy Committee of Parliament. “The statement said it was “deeply regrettable” that Mali claimed that the Danish deployment lacked proper legal grounds and the consent of the Mali government. The Danish Foreign Ministry previously said that former President of Mali, Ibrahim Bubakar Keita, requested in 2019 that Denmark send troops to participate in Takuba’s efforts. Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, a spokesman for the Mali government, said Wednesday that a request to deploy Danish troops was under consideration but was not approved.

Source: Libya Today January 27, 2022 18:23 UTC