Mali and Burkina Faso have announced their decision to withdraw from the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
The Burkinabè authorities stated that "the organization has strayed from its objectives of promoting cultural and technical cooperation, and has unfortunately transformed into a biased instrument of political manipulation," reported Burkina Faso’s official news agency. They added that "Burkina Faso can no longer continue its cooperation with an institution that no longer meets its legitimate expectations in terms of justice, equality, and fairness."
Mali, for its part, has also decided to withdraw from the International Organisation of La Francophonie, according to an announcement by the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
“Mali cannot remain a member of an organization whose actions are incompatible with the constitutional principles guiding public action in Mali, which are founded on the sovereignty of the state, the sovereign choices of the people, and the defense of their interests,” the statement emphasized.
The OIF has engaged in a “selective application of sanctions” against Mali, as well as shown “disregard” for its “sovereignty” since the beginning of the transition following the coup d’état of August 18, 2020, the statement added. It also noted that Mali, as a founding member of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)—which later became the OIF—had “significantly contributed to the construction and strengthening” of the Francophone organization.
