After Mali accused the French Army of spying using drones to film a military base, France alleged mercenaries were burying bodies in it as the junta said France did not have a "legal basis" for carrying out military operations in the country.

The country's foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop said it will be ending the 2014 defence cooperation agreement with France.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-the-ukraine-war-russian-gas-supplies-to-china-soar-by-60-in-2022-report-476197">Also Read |&nbsp;Russian gas supplies to China soar by 60% in 2022: Report</a>

"So, as of May 2, the agreement covering Barkhane and the agreement covering Takuba cease taking an effect with regard to Mali which means that as of this moment, there is no legal basis for France to operate on Malian soil," Diop said.

France had deployed fighter planes and drones Barkhane operation as allies fought the jihadists. However, relations between France and Bamako began to slide after a coup as officers seized power in 2020 while toppling&nbsp;Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

France had earlier decided to pull out troops from Mali including a special forces unit. France however said Mali's decision on ending the military cooperation agreement was&nbsp;"unjustified".

The junta had earlier accussed the French forces of "illegally" flying a drone over Gossi base as French forces handed it back to Mali.

France later claimed Russian mercenaries were covering bodies to accuse the French of war crimes as Mali's military ordered an inquiry into mass graves found at the Gossi base.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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After Mali accused the French Army of spying using drones to film a military base, France alleged mercenaries were burying bodies in it as the junta said France did not have a "legal basis" for carrying out military operations in the country.

After Mali accused the French Army of spying using drones to film a military base, France alleged mercenaries were burying bodies in it as the junta said France did not have a "legal basis" for carrying out military operations in the country. The country's foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop said it will be ending the 2014 defence cooperation agreement with France. Also Read | Russian gas supplies to China soar by 60% in 2022: Report "So, as of May 2, the agreement covering Barkhane and the agreement covering Takuba cease taking an effect with regard to Mali which means that as of this moment, there is no legal basis for France to operate on Malian soil," Diop said. France had deployed fighter planes and drones Barkhane operation as allies fought the jihadists. However, relations between France and Bamako began to slide after a coup as officers seized power in 2020 while toppling Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. France had earlier decided to pull out troops from Mali including a special forces unit. France however said Mali's decision on ending the military cooperation agreement was "unjustified". The junta had earlier accussed the French forces of "illegally" flying a drone over Gossi base as French forces handed it back to Mali. France later claimed Russian mercenaries were covering bodies to accuse the French of war crimes as Mali's military ordered an inquiry into mass graves found at the Gossi base. (With inputs from Agencies) Watch WION LIVE Here Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

After drone spying row, Mali to exit defence pact with France

Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in an accident between two helicopters, the French presidency said on Tuesday, the single biggest loss of French troops in combat in the region since intervening there in 2013.

France has a 4,500-strong Barkhane force countering Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region, where violence by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the sparely-populated area has proliferated in recent years.

"The president announces with deep sadness the death of 13 French troops in Mali on the evening of November 25, in an accident between their two helicopters during a combat mission against jihadists," the statement from the president's office said.

The circumstances surrounding the accident were not immediately clear. France's Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said the incident occurred while the helicopters were in flight.

The Defence Ministry said the helicopters involved were a Tiger and Cougar and the operation took place in central Mali.

"They were supporting commandos from the Barkhane force who were engaged with armed terrorists," the ministry said in a statement.

France, the former colonial power in the region, intervened in Mali six years ago to drive out Islamist militants who had occupied the north and still use swathes of the country as a launchpad for attacks across the largely desert region.

Paris has since kept troops in the region as part of Barkhane counter-terrorism operations, while western powers have provided funding to a regional force made up of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania.

France has been frustrated that it is taking the brunt of operations on the ground, although other European countries have provided logistical support, trainers and some special forces.

By reinforcing African forces, Paris sees an eventual exit strategy for what is its biggest foreign deployment, diplomats say.

Monday's deaths bring the total number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel to 28.

Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in an accident between two helicopters, the French presidency said on Tuesday, the single biggest loss of French troops in combat in the region since intervening there in 2013.

Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in an accident between two helicopters, the French presidency said on Tuesday, the single biggest loss of French troops in combat in the region since intervening there in 2013. France has a 4,500-strong Barkhane force countering Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region, where violence by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the sparely-populated area has proliferated in recent years. "The president announces with deep sadness the death of 13 French troops in Mali on the evening of November 25, in an accident between their two helicopters during a combat mission against jihadists," the statement from the president's office said. The circumstances surrounding the accident were not immediately clear. France's Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said the incident occurred while the helicopters were in flight. The Defence Ministry said the helicopters involved were a Tiger and Cougar and the operation took place in central Mali. "They were supporting commandos from the Barkhane force who were engaged with armed terrorists," the ministry said in a statement. France, the former colonial power in the region, intervened in Mali six years ago to drive out Islamist militants who had occupied the north and still use swathes of the country as a launchpad for attacks across the largely desert region. Paris has since kept troops in the region as part of Barkhane counter-terrorism operations, while western powers have provided funding to a regional force made up of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania. France has been frustrated that it is taking the brunt of operations on the ground, although other European countries have provided logistical support, trainers and some special forces. By reinforcing African forces, Paris sees an eventual exit strategy for what is its biggest foreign deployment, diplomats say. Monday's deaths bring the total number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel to 28.

Thirteen French helicopter troops killed in Mali combat operation

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After drone spying row, Mali to exit defence pact with France

Thirteen French helicopter troops killed in Mali combat operation