Elbows in the financial sphere: lines of defense

France believes that its military aircraft are completely free to enter Mali’s airspace, even though the latter has closed its borders in response to West African sanctions.

As of Monday, the French Arms Ministry noted that “we have a legal situation that allows us to move and do a number of things and there is no doubt that the ECOWAS countries that have closed their borders with Mali will allow the continuation of military movements.”

On Thursday, the French embassy in Bamako spoke of “incomprehension” in the face of the Malian government’s accusations of a “clear violation” of the country’s airspace.

In a letter dated Wednesday, the commander of the French force said bulwarkGeneral Laurent Michonne wrote to the Chief of the Financial Staff to remind him that French aircraft and vehicles enjoy “full freedom of movement” under existing agreements. there he is:

The Malian government on Wednesday denounced the “apparent violation” of national space the day before by the A400 of the French army on the return flight between Abidjan and Gao, a major French base in Mali. In a press release (read below), Bamako said it refused to accept any responsibility for the “risks that perpetrators of these practices may expose themselves”.