In his weekly press release on external developments, Sağlam have made important statements regarding France’s attacks against civilians in Mali, and an arrest warrant issued for the U.S. outgoing President Donald Trump by an Iraqi court.

France’s attacks against civilians in Mali

“It was reported that at least one hundred civilians were killed in the air attacks on the village of Bounti in the Mopti region in Mali. Although France claimed that the attacks targeted armed groups, local sources have announced that all of the victims were civilians and children were among those who were killed in the attacks,” Sağlam said.

Drawing attention to France’s colonial past in Africa, Sağlam went on to say: “On the pretext of fighting against armed groups, France continues to murder civilians under the name of Operation Barkhane. France, which has been exploiting the gold and uranium resources in the countries of the Sahel region of Africa for years, is upsetting the economic and political stability in the region with the help of its collaborators.”

“Different ethnic and religious groups have been played off against one another in Mali and other Sahel countries, one of the poorest regions in the world. Due to internal conflicts and political instability, thousands of people die every year. In order for the chaos and instability in the region to come to an end, the colonial powers, especially France, should keep their hands off Africa. The exploitation of Africa’s resources must be ended. France, who has committed crimes against humanity in the continent, should be convicted under international law.”

Arrest warrant for Trump

Reminding that an arrest warrant was issued for Donald Trump by the Iraqi Rusafa Investigation Court over the killing of Soleimani and members of his entourage, Sağlam said: “ It is important to make a decision, albeit symbolically, on bringing charges against the U.S. president, who killed millions of civilians, exploited their resources and upset stability with the invasions and interventions in Islamic countries.”

“All countries, especially Iraq, that are occupied and destructed by the USA, should strive for terminating the military and political presence of the USA in their territories.”

Sağlam also called on those countries to immediately close the occupying power's military bases, which pave the way for more massacres and exploitations.

“Otherwise, the other decisions will not have significant deterrent effects that give concrete results,” Sağlam concluded. (ILKHA)