The ruling junta in Bamako recently canceled the authorization given to Air France to resume flights to Mali. According to the Malian authorities, this agreement was concluded “without consulting the hierarchy”. The decision was taken after the airline announced the resumption of flights from Friday, after a two-month suspension.
Air France suspended its flights to Mali on August 7. This suspension followed the closure of neighboring Niger’s airspace, in the context of a coup d’état. The company cited geopolitical tensions in the Sahel region to justify its decision.
However, the political situation in Mali has deteriorated in recent years, with a succession of military coups. Relations between France and Malian military leaders have also become strained. France, a former colonial power, is militarily engaged in the region and has been forced to repatriate part of its diplomatic staff due to attacks and hostile demonstrations against it.
Faced with this situation, France has classified the capitals of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in a “red zone”, formally advising French nationals not to go there. It is in this context that the Malian junta decided to cancel the authorization given to Air France, arguing for a need for coordination and respect for the country’s sovereignty.
Air France had planned to resume service to Bamako from Paris-Charles de Gaulle with three direct flights per week. However, the company announced that flights would not resume as planned, without providing further details on the situation.
It remains to be seen how this cancellation of the authorization will affect relations between Air France and the Malian authorities, as well as the future of flights between the two countries. Political tensions and security concerns in the Sahel region continue to pose challenges for airlines and international travel.