Overview

• France’s foreign ministry announced on Friday that it suspended counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence-sharing with Mali.
• Two staff members from Mali’s embassy and consulate in Paris were declared persona non grata and instructed to leave by Saturday, according to French sources and media.
• Mali continues to detain French national Yann Vezilier, whom its authorities accuse of working for French intelligence and participating in a plot to destabilise the government.
• France rejects the accusations as baseless, says Vezilier is a duly accredited diplomat, and demands his immediate release.
• Mali had already declared five French diplomats unwelcome, and France has warned that additional measures could follow if Vezilier is not freed.