Egypt and Tunisia opposed to the French operation in Mali

Egyptian and Tunisian authorities, linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, did not hesitate to show their opposition to the French military intervention in Mali.

Support their fundamentalist supporters rather than the fight against terrorism led by France. Egyptian and Tunisian authorities, linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, did not hesitate to show their opposition to the French military intervention in Mali against the jihadists. They were supported by their sponsorship of Qatar, however, one of Paris's closest allies in the Middle East.

The most straightforward load came from Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi , the Brotherhood coming from. "We will never agree with a military intervention in Mali because this will fuel conflict in the region, "said the Egyptian leader traveling in Saudi Arabia, did not hesitate to speak of" aggression. "For Morsi, "the intervention must be peaceful (...) funds must be invested in development. That we will never want is to separate the Arab north from the heart of Africa. "

Anxious to paste a block Islamist quick to denounce "foreign invaders," the Tunisian leaders have started to show opposition to the French military offensive, then retracted somewhat. A week ago, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Rafik Abdelsallem, believed that "Africa's problems must be solved in an African", while saying "against foreign intervention in all cases of figures. "

A few days earlier, President Moncef Marzouki - a layman - had already kept its support in Paris, saying he would have "preferred a negotiated political solution." There were angry reactions from Paris scenes? Still, after a meeting between the Ambassador of France in Tunis, François Gouyette and Rafik Abdelssalem, it has softened its position, saying "understand" the French operation. "Tunisia is well aware of the requirements of the French military intervention and safety issues that need this process to prevent the transformation of Mali into a hotbed of terrorism and violence," then indicated the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in communicated sewn with white thread.

Equally embarrassing for France was the reaction of his allies Qatar. Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassem, has questioned the merits of the French intervention, arguing that the use of force would not solve the problem in Mali. In the aftermath, the influential Sheikh Yusuf Qaradaoui hosted in Doha, criticized "the precipitation of France to go to war before having exhausted all means of reaching a peaceful solution and national reconciliation." Attack issued on behalf of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, the organization headed by Sheikh Qaradaoui, a friend of Qatari leaders, who could not speak without a green light from the Emir Sheikh Hamad himself same. Qatar's humanitarian activism in Mali is regarded with suspicion by the French intelligence services.