By John Ikani
Denmark says it will start pulling its troops out of Mali after the West African country’s transitional junta government this week insisted on an immediate withdrawal.
The Danish soldiers who arrived Mali on 18 January had been planning to join the Takuba Task Force that was set up by European countries to help fight so-called “Islamic State” and al-Qaida militants.
The junta rejected Copenhagen’s argument that it had been invited by ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was overthrown by the military in 2020.
On Wednesday night, Mali’s transitional government said there “was no approval for their deployment by the Malian authorities”.
“The Danish contribution will now be withdrawn from the country,” the Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod confirmed on Thursday.
The decision comes amid tensions between Mali and its international partners, including regional bodies and the European Union, that have sanctioned Mali after the military government failed to organise elections following two coups.
Several EU member states involved in the counter-insurgency operations have also been angered by the alleged presence of the Russian-backed private military organization, the Wagner Group.
Tensions were further sparked after Bamako refused permission for a German military aircraft to fly over its airspace last week. UN peacekeeping flights were also blocked for several days.
France — which once ruled Mali as a colony — and the 14 other members of the Takuba force urged Mali late on Wednesday to reconsider its position.
The situation is a blow for France which is trying to “Europeanize” its operations in the Sahel. It has thousands of troops in the region and has often been the target of popular protests.
The transitional government lashed out at France on Wednesday after Paris tried to support Denmark’s presence. The junta told Mali’s former occupier to end its “colonial reflexes” and stop interfering.
