Khalil Cisse: Mali doesn’t need ‘French model of democracy’

Mali does not need the “French model of democracy” dictated by President Emmanuel Macron, Khalil Cisse, president of the NIDEM Center, a new initiative for the development of Mali, told Report.

“Macron's French imperialist forces must be expelled from our country,” he added.

Cisse noted that Mali has repeatedly faced the atrocities of French colonial policy throughout its history.

“We have our own culture and values, heritage, and democracy. France has destroyed our identity and culture, even our official language is French. I can speak French, but I don't want to speak it. Why should I use French even if I have my mother tongue?” the president of the center said.

He noted that Mali wants to taste true independence: “Many countries in Africa are independent only on paper. France actually owns our wealth, not allowing us to speak our mother tongue.”