View source for France–Mali relations

{{Infobox bilateral relations|French–Malian|France|Mali}}

'''France–Mali relations''' refers to the [[bilateralism|current and historical relations]] between [[France]] and [[Mali]].

France was the former colonial overlord of Mali, then known as [[French Sudan]], in which it ruled from the capital in [[Bamako]]. Bamako later became the capital of the newborn Republic of Mali. French rule had influenced Mali in several aspects, such as the adoption of the [[French language]] as the main language of Mali. Due to this, France and Mali have a strong connection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/mali/france-and-mali/|title=France and Mali}}</ref> Both are members of [[Organisation internationale de la Francophonie]]. There are over 120,000 [[Malians in France]]. After 2020 relations soured as the new military government turned public opinion against France. On January 31, 2022, the Malian military junta expelled French envoy Joël Meyer.<ref name="maliminister">{{cite news |title=Mali expels French envoy over remarks by foreign minister |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/31/mali-expels-french-envoy-ambassador-joel-grey?fbclid=IwAR3EupgfGQaTXK20vfIvjp7zgpvsqVRAj1ZkdCk0gMuNTUie4TK_uWRwcDg |access-date=31 January 2022 |work=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=31 January 2022}}</ref>

==Recent relations==
===Northern Mali conflict===
In response to the rise of [[al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb]] in 2012 following the collapse of [[Azawad]] as part of [[Northern Mali conflict]], France deployed 4,000 troops and sent many military equipments in part of [[Operation Serval]]. France has been very cautious of Mali's situation, as Mali was a former colony of France and has ties with France.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/11/20/what-mali-means-to-france/|title=What Mali means for France?|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theforeignreport.com/2013/02/06/mali-why-france-is-fighting-for-west-africa/|title=Mali: Why France is fighting for West Africa|date=6 February 2013|work=The Foreign Report}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Erforth|first=Benedikt|date=2020-03-04|title=Multilateralism as a tool: Exploring French military cooperation in the Sahel|journal=Journal of Strategic Studies|volume=43|issue=4|pages=560–582|doi=10.1080/01402390.2020.1733986|s2cid=216482116|issn=0140-2390}}</ref>

In 2017, President [[Emmanuel Macron]] had vowed to fight every terrorist in Mali.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39968319|title=Macron in Mali: France will be 'uncompromising' in fight against terrorists|work=BBC|date=19 May 2017}}</ref>

European nations led by France have criticized the anti-democratic practices of the military government. The government ridiculed France historic and recent roles and wants France to remove its 2400 troops. <ref>Ruth Maclean, "‘Down With France’: Former Colonies in Africa Demand a Reset Decades after independence, many African countries are increasingly troubled by the ongoing influence of their former colonial power" [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/14/world/africa/france-macron-africa-colonies.html?searchResultPosition=1 ''New York Times'' 18 April 2022]</ref><ref>John Irish and Tiemoko Diallo, "French military to quit Mali in possible boost to jihadists" [https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/france-partners-begin-mali-military-withdrawal-statement-2022-02-17/ ''Reuters'' 17 Feb 2022]</ref> However even when its counter-terrorism mission is withdrawn, France will continue to provide aircraft military support to Malian troops fighting an Islamist insurgency in the Sahel.<ref>{{cite news |title=France to continue aerial support to Mali after troop withdrawal |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/france-continue-aerial-support-mali-after-troop-withdrawal-2022-03-11/ |access-date=13 March 2022 |work=Reuters |agency=Reuters |publisher=Reuters |date=12 March 2022}}</ref>

== Resident diplomatic missions ==
[[File:P1120056 Paris VI rue du Cherche-Midi n°89 rwk.JPG|thumb|right|Embassy of Mali in Paris]]
* France has an embassy in [[Bamako]].
* Mali has an embassy in [[Paris]].

==See also==
*[[Embassy of France, Bamako]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://ml.ambafrance.org/ Embassy of France in Bamako] {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://www.consulatdumalienfrance.fr/ Consulate of Mali in France] {{in lang|fr}}

{{Foreign relations of France}}
{{Foreign relations of Mali}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|France|Mali}}

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[[Category:France–Mali relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of France|Mali]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Mali]]
[[Category:Relations of colonizer and former colony]]