France and its European partners involved in the fight against Islamist militants in Mali have decided to start a coordinated withdrawal of their military assets from the country, a joint statement said, AFP reported.

According to the statement, they have agreed to draw up plans on how to remain in the region, especially in Niger and the Gulf of Guinea countries, by June 2022.

Relations between Paris and Bamako deteriorated after the military junta abandoned an agreement to organize elections in February and decided to hold power until 2025.

"Due to multiple obstructions by the Malian transitional authorities, Canada and the European States operating alongside Operation Barkhane and within the Task Force Takuba deem that the political, operational and legal conditions are no longer met to effectively continue their current military engagement in the fight against terrorism in Mali," said a joint statement.

They have therefore decided to initiate a coordinated withdrawal of their respective military assets for these operations from Mali.

The statement was made by countries cooperating with the French counter-terrorism force Barkhane and the Takuba mission, which includes some 14 European countries.