France has welcomed the release of a French intelligence agent who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence in Mali, describing the development as a major relief after years of strained relations between the two countries.
Yann Vezilier, who was stationed at the French embassy in Bamako, was arrested about a year ago and convicted on charges of espionage and undermining state security.
Mali’s military leader granted him a presidential pardon on Thursday, allowing him to leave prison despite the government maintaining that the conviction was based on facts established during his trial.
The French Foreign Ministry said Vezilier’s return to France would allow him to reunite with his family and colleagues, while reiterating that the accusations against him were unfounded.
The case had further strained ties between France and Mali, former colonial partners whose relations deteriorated sharply after military coups in 2020 and 2021 and the subsequent withdrawal of French forces from the country.
