Suspension of visas for French citizens by the Government of Mali

  Tensions between the countries of the African coast and France increased, in connection with this, Mali, in response to the actions of France, stopped issuing visas to citizens of this country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali has announced that it has suspended the issuance of visas for French citizens indefinitely. Earlier, the French government classified Mali as a "red zone" under the pretext of regional tensions. After the coup in Niger, anti-French sentiments again intensified in some countries of the Sahel region; so that in Niger the people supported the conspirators because of the removal of the joint president of France and America, Muhammad Bazum. This is at a time when some African countries, including some members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), condemned the coup and declared war on the coup plotters.

In this regard, the French authorities also welcomed the decision of these countries, so that the representative of the military council of Niger, Amado Abdurrahman said that France, in order to investigate the process of military intervention in Niger, with the complicity of some domestic figures, held a meeting with the Joint Headquarters of the National Guard of Niger to obtain the necessary political and military permission to intervene. This is while Mali and Burkina Faso have declared that they will consider any attack on Niger as a declaration of war on them. At the same time, these conditions increased the likelihood of war in the region. In fact, Niger was considered one of the main allies of France and now more than ever the position and interests of this country are under threat. Therefore, France reacted to the decision of the countries that did not support the military attack on Niger, including Mali, and put them on the red list.

 Earlier in Mali and Burkina Faso, anti-French sentiment forced these countries to break off their political relations with France. In fact, France has had an active presence in the Sahel region, including Mali and neighboring countries, for decades, claiming to fight terrorism and help establish security in Africa in the form of new colonialism. In the form of the so-called Operation Barkhane, French soldiers were stationed in the countries of the region, especially in Mali, claiming help. While reports showed that French soldiers were not successful in anti-terrorist operations, and in some cases even attacked civilians. In this context, the Center for Strategic Studies in Africa announced in a report that after the foreign intervention in Africa, the number of violent acts associated with terrorist groups has increased by 70% in the countries of the African coast. In the economic aspect, French colonialism also forced France to always pay attention to the different countries of the Sahel. These countries, which have mines and other mines rich in uranium and gold, are among the main suppliers for the needs of France, including nuclear power plants in that country. In recent years, French policy in Africa has met with many protests from citizens of different countries of this continent.

In fact, with the growth of consciousness and political and geographical changes in the sphere of international politics, African countries, especially the countries of the Sahel region, also tried to get out of the direct and indirect yoke of France. Political scientist Abdurrahman bin Sharit, saying that all groups on the African continent are tired of France's policy, stressed that this policy is based on violence in the region and the appointment of protege leaders who work to the detriment of African peoples and for the good of Paris. France effectively lost its last partner on the African coast after the coup in Niger. Although, it is not yet clear what events will take place in this region. But it seems that from now on, France and other colonial countries will face great obstacles to achieve their goals in the Sahel countries.