Why Paris is blocking the appointment of Moussa Sy to the Embassy of Mali
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The online newspaper Africa Intelligence revealing on Wednesday February 2 that the appointment of a Malian ambassador to France was blocked by Paris. RFI today reveals the name proposed by Bamako and the reasons for this blockage.
His name is Moussa Sy. From a French diplomatic source, the Malian transitional authorities proposed his name last August. Since then, Paris has still not responded.
Mali has had no ambassador in France for just two years. In February 2020, while Mali was still led by President IBK, the incumbent Toumani Djime Diallo accused before the Senate of ” french legionnaires “bad behavior in the” Pigalle of Bamako », arousing the ire of Paris. He was immediately recalled to the country by the Malian authorities. Since then, the direction of the embassy is ensured by a charge d’affaires.
Too close to Russia
Another personality is appointed in May to succeed him. This is Issa Konfourou, representative of Mali to the United Nations in New York. But ” the administrative process was never completed “, explains a source at the Embassy of Mali. And for good reason: in August 2020, the IBK regime was overthrown by a military coup.
According to a French diplomat, the Malian authorities of transition will put a new proposal. In August 2021, the name of Moussa Sy is subject to Paris approval. Aged 64, he is currently cultural counselor at the Embassy of Mali in Cuba. But his profile is considered too close to Russia. The person concerned carried out part of his higher education in Moscow, at the Pushkin Institute and at the Patrice Lumumba University.
Moussa Sy’s CV, put online a few years ago by the Maliweb sitealso indicates that he taught Russian language and literature for ten years in a high school in Bamako or that he converted to journalism, he collaborated with Radio Moscow Internationale.
” Provocation “
Russian-speaking and Russophile, but with a diplomatic experience deemed too limited: Paris does not respond to the proposal. ” We are not saying he is a spy, but in the current context this proposal is a clear message and a provocation “Judges the French diplomatic source. Also the application for approval, specifically studied ” in a few weeks has still not received a response after more than five months.
Another affront from Paris vis-à-vis the Malian transitional authorities? Joined by RFI in Havana, Moussa Sy neither confirmed nor denied this information, and returned to the authorities of Bamako, who did not wish to follow up.