‘We are not abandoning Mali, we are restructuring our presence’

In the face of many questions on Russia/Ukraine, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, reminded journalists that today’s discussions were mainly about the EU-Africa Union Summit. 

Asked about whether the EU could compete with China and whether the EU was Africa’s “best friend”, Borrell said: “We are Africa’s best friends. We are the biggest investor, the biggest aid giver, the biggest trade partner. We have a lot of work with Africa because African problems are our problems.”

Despite this morning’s announcement by President Macron that France would be leaving Mali, Borrell said that yesterday at the Elysée with Macron and a group of African and European countries had discussed the military presence in Sahel more widely. 

Borrell said France and other EU countries will withdraw from Mali: “We are not abandoning Sahel. We are just restructuring our presence. We will continue supporting the people in Sahel and Malian people. But it is important that this support has to be implemented in accordance with the political situation in Mali.”

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