According to an official bulletin distributed in the capital city Bamako on Thursday, a French military aircraft flying from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, invaded Malian airspace, in violation of international law.

Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, the Executive spokesperson, indicated in the paper that on January 11, an A400 military cargo aircraft registered FRBAN flew the Abidjan-Gao-Abidjan circuit.

It was reported that the plane switched off its transponder to avoid being detected and broke off connection with Malian air traffic control authorities while violating Malian airspace.

Despite the ruse, the newly obtained national defense capabilities allowed the aircraft's trajectory to be identified and tracked, according to the article.

Malian officials cautioned that they decline all responsibility for the risks to which the perpetrators of those practices could expose themselves in case that they violate airspace again.”  after reporting national and worldwide public opinion, which included the French government.

This action comes just days after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is made up of 15 countries, imposed sanctions on this country, which France is a member of, to force the ruling military junta to hold early elections to restore constitutional order.