France and Mali had a difference of opinion over whether to talk to jihadists to help end the Sahel state’s eight-year-old insurgency, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian ruling the option out.
During a news conference in the capital Bamako, Le Drian distinguished between engaging with armed groups which had signed peace accords, and “terror groups”.
Le Drian’s visit marks the first by a French politician since young army officers toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18.
After international pressure, Mali’s military junta handed over to an interim government which is meant to stage elections within 18 months.
Le Drian said his position was shared by the United Nations Security Council and the G5 Sahel countries.
But in a sign of a policy rift, Mali’s interim leader disagreed with the French official.
After international pressure, Mali’s military junta handed over to an interim government which is meant to stage elections within 18 months.
Mali has born witness to conflict since 2012 and thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed since then.
Intense fighting has continued despite the presence of French and UN troops, prompting many to argue that dialogue with jihadists is the best way to end the bloodshed.
