A French embassy employee has been detained in Mali under what France says are completely unfounded accusations.
The man, identified by Malian authorities as Yann Vezilier, was taken into custody in recent weeks along with two Malian generals and several other military officers. The group is accused of being involved in a supposed plot to destabilize the country.
France’s foreign ministry strongly rejected the claims, calling Vezilier’s arrest a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which protects diplomats and embassy staff.
“Dialogue is underway to clear up any misunderstanding,” the ministry said in a statement.
Relations between France and its former colonies in West Africa have become increasingly strained in recent years. A wave of military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has fueled tensions, with Paris losing much of its once-close influence in the region. Photo by Mouase21, Wikimedia commons.