Mali Quits Francophonie, Joining Niger And Burkina Faso

Junta-led Mali, which has severed ties with France amid growing tensions, announced on Tuesday its decision to withdraw from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie OIF, an international group of French-speaking nations.

This move came just a day after its regional allies, Niger and Burkina Faso, declared similar intentions.

In a letter directed to its French counterpart, Mali's foreign ministry articulated its reasoning: "Mali cannot remain a member of an organisation whose actions are incompatible with constitutional principles based on the states sovereignty."

This statement underscores the nation's commitment to asserting its independence amidst a changing geopolitical landscape.

Mali was previously suspended from the OIF in August 2020 following a military coup that unseated its president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who had been in power since 2013. The OIF had previously called for Keita's release and the formation of a swift transition government dominated by civilian leadership, highlighting the ongoing political turmoil in the country.