France resumes joint military operations in Mali

France suspended the operations early last month following the West African country’s second coup in less than a year.

France has announced it will resume joint military operations in Mali after suspending them early last month following the West African country’s second coup in less than a year. Following consultations with the Malian transitional authorities and the countries of the region, France “decided to resume joint military operations as well as national advisory missions, which had been suspended since June 3”, the armed forces minister said in a statement on Friday. The decision to suspend the joint operations came after Mali’s military strongman Assimi Goita, who led last year’s coup, overthrew the country’s civilian transitional president and prime minister.