The Malian transitional government has expelled this Wednesday the spokesman for the United Nations Mission in the African country (MINUSMA), Olivier Salgado, and has given him 72 hours to leave the country for “biased publications.”
“This measure comes after a series of tendentious and unacceptable publications by the interested party on Twitter,” the Malian Foreign Ministry reported in a statement, referring to information about the arrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers on July 10.
Mali prevents eight German soldiers from leaving the country after suspending MINUSMA rotations.
The mission spokesman, Olivier Salgado, stated last Thursday that they were willing to hold talks with Bamako. “The rotation of contingents is important and crucial for the operational effectiveness of the mission, as well as for the safety and security of personnel. Every effort must be made to reach a solution, especially after the relief of some members a few months ago,” he said. the.
Tensions have been on the rise in recent months due to the military junta’s announcement of lengthening the transition process and the alleged deployment of mercenaries from the Wagner Group, something that has been denied by Bamako and Moscow, which speak of regular military cooperation .
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