Mali summons French ambassador over Macron comments

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron reacts during a joint press conference with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum following a video summit with leaders of G5 Sahel countries, at the Elysee presidential Palace, in Paris July 9, 2021. Stephane De Sakutin/ Pool via REUTERS

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali's foreign ministry summoned France's ambassador to Bamako on Tuesday over comments by President Emmanuel Macron that it said were unfriendly and disagreeable.

This is the latest salvo in a tense dispute between Mali and its key military partner France over reports Bamako could recruit Russian mercenaries as Paris reshapes its 5,000-strong counter-terrorism mission in the region.