Denmark announced last week the deployment of military and medical troops in Mali as part of the counter-terrorism task force Takuba. While the contingent is already on the ground, Mali is demanding its immediate withdrawal. The reason? The government says they were sent without its approval.

In an official statement last January 24, Malian authorities said they were “surprised” to see Danish soldiers on their territory while they did not approve such backup. “The government wants to inform that this deployment occurred without its consent and consideration of the additional protocol applicable to European partners within the framework of Task Force Takuba. The protocol provides for the conclusion of a bilateral agreement between the Republic of Mali and the partner countries," the government said.

Task Force Takuba was launched in March 2020, during the Pau Summit by French Head of State Emmanuel Macron. This grouping of special forces from several European Union countries, including the Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia, Denmark, Italy, etc. is intended to assist Malian units mainly in the fight against terrorism. The force is active mainly in the Liptako region and has already carried out more than twenty missions.

Jean-Marc Gogbeu, intern