New Report Confirms Morocco’s Key Role in Release of French Officer Detained in Mali

Rabat – A new report by intelligence-focused news outlet Intelligence Online has emphasized Morocco’s key role in the release of Yann Vezilier, a French officer who was detained in Mali.

The report corroborates earlier reports that Rabat helped mediate Vezilier’s release.

The French media outlet shed light on Morocco’s key role through a mediation conducted by Morocco’s Foreign Intelligence Agency (DGED).

The report emphasized Morocco’s mediation helped “unblock” a situation in which French diplomacy and intelligence failed to make progress, citing Rabat’s ability to maintain channels of dialogue with Sahel countries and their leadership.

Last week on Thursday, Mali announced the release of the French intelligence officer, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage.

Malian transitional leader General Assimi Goita granted the officer a presidential pardon, after what the Malian government described as an intervention of a “friendly country” whose “good offices” contributed to his release.

The Malian government, however, did not name the country in its statement.

Moroccan news outlet Le360 reported on Rabat’s role upon announcing the news, emphasizing Morocco’s discreet diplomatic efforts and growing role as a mediator between France and Sahelian countries.

Mali arrested Yann on August 13 last year during an operation, accusing him of establishing espionage and conspiracy networks aimed at destabilizing the transitional institutions and fomenting a coup.

A court in Mali sentenced him in June this year to 20 years in prison.

France rejected the accusations against the officer, describing them as “baseless” and “unfounded.”

Mali, however, emphasized that the officer was subject to a fair trial, stressing his release does not “call into question the facts established by a contradictory judgement.”

This comes as Mali and France share strained ties following the withdrawal of French troops.

Mali’s military expelled French counterterrorism forces and terminated cooperation agreements covering defense.

This comes as Morocco continues to strengthen its continental strength, reinforcing relations with several countries in the Sahel,  including Mali.

In a recent move documenting this strength, Mali announced it withdrew its recognition of Polisario’s self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and joined a long and growing list of countries backing Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.