Mali, which has severed ties with France, declared on Tuesday that it was withdrawing from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an international association of French-speaking countries. This decision follows similar actions by Niger and Burkina Faso, who also distanced themselves from the group on Monday.
In a letter to France’s foreign ministry, Mali’s government stated that it could not remain in an organization whose actions conflicted with the country’s constitutional principles and sovereignty. The OIF had previously suspended Mali from the organization in August 2020 after a military coup ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The OIF had called for the release of Keita and for a civilian-led transitional government.
Burkina Faso and Niger, both of which are under military rule and have also distanced themselves from France while building closer ties with Russia, made the same announcement on Monday. Additionally, these three countries have left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form their own Sahel confederation.
Niger, which experienced a military coup in July 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, was also suspended from the OIF.
The OIF, based in Paris, promotes the French language and fosters cooperation in political, educational, economic, and cultural affairs among its 93 member states.
AFP
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