Mali cancels Air France clearance to resume flights

Mali's ruling junta has just cancelled the authorisation given to Air France to resume flights to the country. Air France was supposed to resume flights to Mali on Friday, just over two months after suspending its service following a coup in neighbouring Niger.

An Air France plane at Charles de Gaulle aiport in Roissy near Paris. © AFP - CHRIS DELMAS

"The decision has been cancelled because the agreement was given without consulting the hierarchy," said one official, a day after Air France announced the resumption of flights from Friday.

Air France suspended flights to Mali and Burkina Faso on 7 August,  after the airspace in neighbouring Niger was closed by the coup leaders, who seized power on 26 July.

The initial suspension was just for several days, but after the airline extended the suspension, citing the coup in Niger and the "geopolitical situation" in the Sahel region, Malian authorities revoked Air France's permit as it said the move breached terms to operate the route.

In a letter addressed to Air France, Mali's National Civil Aviation Agency said the company had not provided notice and caused "inconvenience to passengers".

Derailed plans

Air France had announced on Tuesday it intended to resume flights to Mali on Friday.

"In coordination with the French DGAC (Civil Aviation Authority) and Malian authorities, Air France will resume service to Bamako from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from 13 October 2023," a spokesman has told French news agency AFP.

"This failing entails the cancellation of your flight operating permit" for the summer season extending to October and other airlines could use the route, it had added.

Air France intended to run three flights per week to Mali, operated by a company it has subcontracted, EuroAtlantic Airways, to service the route.

Suspended service, new discussions with Burkina Faso

The Air France spokesman also said the airline was working with authorities in Burkina Faso to also restart flights.

The service to Niger remains suspended until further notice.

Relations between Mali and France have soured since a junta seized control in the West African country in 2020.

Last year, French troops engaged in a decade-long battle against jihadist rebels left Mali, which has turned towards Russia and has backed the new military authorities in Niger.

(with AFP)