BAMAKO, Mali: Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s “outrageous” comments about the transitional government have angered Mali’s military leaders, who ordered the French ambassador’s expulsion.

Last week, Le Drian had said the Mali junta was “illegitimate” and “out of control.”

France said it was recalling ambassador Joel Meyer, who was given 72 hours to leave Mali.

Western powers are also concerned about Russia’s growing involvement in Mali, a former French colony.

In another interview, Le Drian accused Russian mercenaries of “helping themselves to the country’s resources, in exchange for protecting the junta.”

Relations between France and Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa which is one of the world’s poorest nations, have deteriorated since the army seized power in August 2020.

Tensions increased further this month when the junta reversed an agreement to hold elections in February and vowed to retain power until 2025.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly accused Mali’s rulers of stepping up “provocations” against France.

Meyer “was summoned and notified of a decision by the government inviting him to leave the national territory within 72 hours following hostile and outrageous comments by the French foreign affairs minister recently”, the Mali government said in a statement read on national television.

The French foreign ministry confirmed it was recalling the ambassador.