France was welcomed as a saviour in Mali in January 2013 after it sent in troops to fight jihadism in the north of the country. Nine years on, the insurgency has grown and many Malians are applauding France's departure, suggesting it failed in its mission.
In January 2013 Mali turned to its former colonial ruler for help in facing an armed rebellion which had emerged out of the war in Libya and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.
