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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World

Minister of Defence says France won't stay in Mali if price is too high

French defence minister, Florence Parly has said France will not remain in Mali if the price is too high. © REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

French defence minister Florence Parly has said that European states combating Islamist militants in Mali will endeavour to find a way to keep their mission going, but there are limits to the price that France is willing to pay to remain there.

Saturday's statement from France's armed forces minister comes as relations between Mali's military junta and its international partners are close to breaking down after failing to organise an election following two military coups.

Last week, the junta told France to stop interfering in the affairs of its former colony and to keep its "colonial reflexes" to itself.

Speaking Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian retorted that the situation on the ground had become untenable, as European allies agreed to draw up plans within two weeks on how to adapt their anti-jihadist operations, which cover Mali and the wider Sahel region, to changing circumstances.

"The conditions of our intervention, whether military, economic or political, have become harder and harder to manage," Parly said.

"In short, we are not prepared to pay an unlimited price to remain in Mali."

However, Parly said ministers from the 15 countries involved in the European special force in the Sahel were for now united in wanting to maintain the mission, "so we must determine its new conditions."

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