The Malian government on Tuesday said it has asked Denmark to immediately withdraw troops deployed to the West African country as part of a French-led counter-terrorism task force.

The government said this was because it was not consulted and the deployment failed to follow protocol.

“The government of Mali notes with astonishment, the deployment on its territory of a contingent of Danish special forces within the Takuba force,” the government said in the statement.

It added that the deployment took place without consideration of the additional protocol applicable to the task force.

The statement said all partners in the task force needed a prior accord with the government before deployments in Mali.

The decision comes amid tension between Mali and its international partners, including regional bodies and the European Union, that have sanctioned Mali after the transitional government failed to organise elections following two military coups.

Tensions have escalated also over allegations that transitional authorities have deployed private military contractors from the Russia-backed Wagner Group to Mali, which some EU countries have said was incompatible with their mission.

A statement on the Danish defence ministry website said on Monday that about 90 personnel including surgeons and the Danish army special forces, logistics support were deployed. Their mandate was supposed to last until early 2023, it said.

(Reuters/NAN)