French ambassador to Mali given ultimatum to leave as diplomatic spat escalates

Prompted by the military junta, Malians took to the streets across the country to protest against sanctions imposed by the West African bloc ECOWAS on 14 January, 2022. © Cyril Payen, France 24

The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given French Ambassador Joel Meyer 72 hours to leave the country, in a new escalation of bilateral tensions. This comes in response to comments by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian who deemed the transitional authorities "illegitimate" and "irresponsible".

"This decision follows the hostile and outrageous remarks" made ‘recently’ by Jean-Yves le Drian and the "recurrence of such remarks by the French authorities with regard to the Malian authorities despite repeated protests," according to a government press release read out on ORTM state television.