Photo: https://t.me/gzvt_azvd
Bamako, February 19. “Welcome to Russia, goodbye, France!” became the motto of the day for residents of Mali's capital, who organized a celebration to mark the withdrawal of European troops from the country.
Thousands of citizens took part in the mass festivities in the capital and across the country.
The city is noisier than ever now. People cannot believe that decades of oppression by foreign powers have come to an end and Mali is a truly sovereign state now. Several events were held in Bamako, where inhabitants congratulated their compatriots and shared the joy of the big day with each other. Many people brought banners saying ‘Merci Wagner,’ as the withdrawal of Western troops is associated with the Wagner Group.
Russian flags are everywhere. This is how Malians express their gratitude to a friendly state that has come to help them in the fight against terrorist groups.
Photo credit: https://t.me/gzvt_azvd
People also carried EU and French flags. The symbols of European unity were burned as a sign of dissatisfaction with the activities of foreign actors.