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WORLD NEWS Friday 28 January 2022
Danish troops to leave Mali after call from country’s rulers

By JAN M. OLSEN Takuba effort. But less than
Associated Press a year later, Keita was de-
COPENHAGEN, Denmark posed in a military coup.
(AP) — Denmark will pull its The ministry said the Danish
small military force out of contribution also had been
northern Mali after the West approved by the current
African country’s transition- transitional government led
al government said no per- by Goita.
mission had been given for “No agreement has au-
them to deploy there, the thorized the deployment
Danish foreign minister said of Danish special forces as
Thursday. part of the Task Force Taku-
The government in Bama- ba,” it said.
ko, under coup leader Col. France plays a central
Assimi Goita, on Wednes- role in the European force,
day told Denmark to with- and French Foreign Min-
draw its 90-person contin- ister Jean-Yves Le Drian
gent, which arrived in Mali on Thursday denounced
just a week earlier for a “unfounded allegations”
one-year deployment un- against Denmark, saying
der a European counterter- Mali’s “junta is illegitimate
rorism operation. and is taking irresponsible
Danish Foreign Minister measures.”
Jeppe Kofod announced After seizing power in Au-
the pullout Thursday, fol- gust 2020, Goita initially
lowing a briefing of parlia- Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod attends a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, on Aug. pledged to uphold Mali’s
ment’s foreign policy com- 31, 2021. Associated Press international agreements
mittee. The minister didn’t but recently has shown
provide a timeline. “Last The Danish contingent in- to fight the terror groups.” The statement expressed signs of reluctance, at
night, the coup generals cludes special operations On Wednesday, the coun- “deep regret” that Mali one point even temporar-
(in Mali) sent out a public soldiers, a surgical team tries behind the 15-na- claimed the Danish deploy- ily grounding U.N. peace-
statement where they reit- and support personnel. tion European Task Force ment lacked a proper legal keeping flights in the north.
erated that Denmark is not Kofod also said Denmark Takuba that is in Mali on a basis and consent from the Over the past 18 months,
welcome,” he said. “That will “continue the good counterterrorism operation Malian government. Goita has solidified his con-
we will not accept. We and close cooperation said the Danish presence The Danish Foreign Minis- trol, naming himself presi-
have therefore decided, with our European allies” is legal, and called on Ba- try earlier had said Mali’s dent of the government
after consultations in the and keep the pressure on mako “to respect the solid former president, Ibrahim that was supposed to orga-
foreign policy committee Mali’s rulers “to get democ- grounds on which our dip- Boubacar Keita, had re- nize new democratic elec-

and there is backing there racy back, to create safety lomatic and operational quested in 2019 that Den- tions by the end of next
that we pull our troops out.” for the population in Mali, cooperation is based.” mark send troops to join the month. q

EU warns Mali, Sahel states over use of Russian mercenaries

By LORNE COOK chief, Josep Borrell, and the Europeans in the strategi-
Associated Press foreign ministers of Chad, cally important but unsta-
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- Mali, Mauritania and Niger. ble Sahel region, which has
pean Union on Wednesday A full meeting of the G5 proven a fertile breeding
warned countries of the Sahel countries, including ground for extremists, is the
north African Sahel against Burkina Faso, did not take decision by Mali’s interim
hiring Russian mercenar- place due to differences government to delay elec-
ies, and underlined that over who could take part. tions due next month until
it stands ready to impose Borrell said he underlined 2026.
sanctions on anyone inter- the EU’s “deep concern The West African regional
fering with the transition to following the confirmed group ECOWAS imposed
civilian rule in Mali. deployment of Russian tougher economic sanc-
Mali’s interim government mercenaries in Mali and tions on Mali in response.
has accepted the pres- the great danger that this The EU has set up a frame-
ence of Wagner Group poses to civilian popula- work for imposing its own
security contractors on its tions. This group’s methods measures on the authorities European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks during
territory. Last month, the EU are incompatible with our for holding up the political a media conference with Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie
slapped sanctions on eight collective efforts on secu- transition but has not yet Joly in Brussels, Jan. 20, 2022. Associated Press
people and three oil com- rity and development.” pulled the trigger.
panies linked to Wagner, In a long conversation with Mali has struggled to con- attacking the Malian army continue to do so for now
which is accused of rights Foreign Minister Abdoulaye tain an extremist insurgen- and its allies. despite the severe instabil-
abuses in the Central Af- Diop, Borrell insisted that cy since 2012. Rebels were Insecurity has worsened ity and political upheaval.
rican Republic, Libya and “the European Union wants forced from power in north- with attacks on civilians Borrell said he demanded
Syria. to remain engaged in Mali ern cities with the help of a and United Nations peace- “concrete guarantees”
The EU warning came in a and the Sahel but not at French-led military opera- keepers. The EU has also from Diop to ensure that Eu-
series of meetings between any price.” tion, but they regrouped been training the Mali ropean help to Mali’s secu-
the bloc’s foreign policy Of chief concern for the in the desert and began armed forces and plans to rity forces can continue.q