A French soldier of the "Belleface" Desert Tactical Group (GTD) uses a sniffer dog to check for explosives during an area control operation in the Gourma region as part of Operation Barkhane in Ndaki, Mali, 29 July 2019; Credit: Reuters / Benoit Tessier

BAMAKO (Reuters) - On Friday 18 February 2022, Mali's ruling military junta condemned the decision by France and European allies to withdraw forces that have been fighting an Islamist insurgency, saying French troops should leave the country without delay and under Malian supervision.

Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, a junta spokesman, said the decision on Thursday 17 February 2022 to withdraw was a unilateral move that violated military accords between Mali and France.

"In view of its repeated breaches of the defence agreements, the government invites French authorities to withdraw without delay", the French forces, Maiga said, speaking on national television.

Maiga repeated the sentence three times, but did not give a deadline. Announcing the troop withdrawal on Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron said it would take four to six months.

Mr Macron's decision came as relations between Paris and its former colony deteriorated in recent weeks after the junta went back on an agreement to organise an election in February 2022 and proposed holding power until 2025.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday that Mali's capacity to fight against Islamist groups on its territory was now Mali's problem as French and allied forces will move to neighbouring countries to help reinforce national armies.

Mali has been the epicentre of a fight against militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the region. The departure of the foreign troops could complicate efforts to tackle the groups that have killed thousands and displaced over a million.

Neighbouring Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum said separately on Twitter that his nation had accepted that French and European special forces move across the border from Mali to combat jihadists and try to secure the border area.

West African coastal nations have seen increased attacks from the militants in recent weeks and are also expected to host some foreign troops if needed.