The second coup taking place this week in Mali shows to what extent factions in Mali’s military and large swaths of the population are unimpressed with France’s policies in their country. It is noteworthy to know that traditionally, nothing takes place in Mali, and in the Sahel in general, without Paris’ approval. In the Mali case, France has lost several opportunities to make it right. The Touaregs inevitably turned into armed resistance, and some factions were integrated into the fast-moving Jihadi movement, throwing the whole Sahel region into a powder-keg. In Mali, and indeed across the Sahel, France’s position is a big problem.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 25, 2021 13:18 UTC