Arriving in Kenya on Sunday, May 10, 2026 from Egypt, French President Emmanuel Macron told the press that the military in power in Bamako did not make the "best decision" for Mali by demanding the departure of the French army from the country.

Choguel Maiga published a post on his Facebook page from prison, in which he denounced an "attempt to falsify the real reasons for France's departure from Mali, by Emmanuel Macron".

"Macron unilaterally decided, without prior notice, to announce France's withdrawal from Mali."

For the former Malian Prime Minister, it is imperative to revisit the facts in order "to prevent their obliteration by those who count on forgetting!"

Mr. Maiga recalls that during the regime change in Mali on August 18, 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron was not upset. "The Malian people and the whole world remember the phrase he uttered several times in a tone of satisfaction on RFI in 2020: 'The government of Bah N'Daou is succeeding in three months where Ibrahim Boubacar Keita could not do in seven years.'"

Following the change that occurred on May 24, 2021, which resulted in the rectification, Mr. Maiga continued, “Macron wanted to appoint the president of the transition and the president of the CNT for Mali. This was something the then-acting vice-president of the transition categorically rejected. After the appointment of the Prime Minister by the president of the transition, an appointment also made without consulting Macron, he apparently flew into a rage and unilaterally decided, without warning, to announce France's withdrawal from Mali and the redeployment of its military forces exclusively to the tri-border area.”

By acting this way, Macron "stabbed Mali in the back," accuses the native of Tabango. "It was as if he were saying to us: we are leaving you alone to face JNIM or GSIM (which happened to be the main terrorist force on Malian territory) and telling us, fend for yourselves, without us!"

"France abandoned us mid-flight."

Assimi Goita learned of the withdrawal of French forces from Mali through "the media, like an ordinary citizen, which is at the very least clumsy, even disrespectful," says Choguel Maiga.

He also points out that the Takuba force "established itself on Malian territory without the authorization of the competent authorities, and in violation of the terms of a document signed by the defunct government."

Mali therefore demanded and obtained the withdrawal and departure of this force.

As for the Barkhane camp in Gao, it was the local population who took the initiative to expel the soldiers who occupied the premises, having heard of the "vast plot being hatched against the FAMA".

Finally, faced with the absence of "tangible, expected results after ten years of presence, Mali has sovereignly decided to request the departure of MINUSMA from our territory."

In short, for Choguel Maiga, the military in power in Bamako never expelled the French armed forces.

It was Emmanuel Macron who, despite the agreements that bind France and Mali, unilaterally decided to withdraw them from Mali, "without referring to the transitional authorities".

"Mali has regained its sovereignty, its independence, and its dignity."

Choguel Maiga believes this was a retaliatory measure against the Malian authorities who refused to comply with its demands. He specifically recalled that Paris wanted to "prohibit Mali from any cooperation with Russia and other strategic partners."

Today, the former Malian Prime Minister rejoices to see his country regain "its sovereignty, its independence and its dignity".