French forces were warmly welcomed when they first arrived in Mali nine years ago, but relations have since soured. Several coups ruined relations between Paris and Mali, and opened the door to Russian-linked mercenaries who are accused of killing hundreds of civilians. Are we just seeing an old school battle of colonial powers in the Sahel, and will it be the locals caught in the middle? Has France achieved anything with its intervention?

GUESTS:

Alex Vines

Director of Africa Programme at Chatham House

David Otto

Director for Geneva Centre for Africa Security & Strategic Studies

Jean-Loup Samaan

Senior Research fellow at the Middle East Institute in Singapore

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