After nine years of presence in Mali, the French army retired proud of the work accomplished. They indeed bravely fought the jihadists. But this assessment hides the reality. Mali’s current difficulties stem largely from NATO’s illegal intervention in Libya. As for the development of jihadist groups, it is organized… by the French secret services. Like the United States in the Middle East, the French are both firefighters and arsonists in Mali. Admittedly, they are withdrawing their army, but at the same time, they are preparing with Washington a larger war in the Sahel.