PARIS, Aug 18 (CGTN) - France has condemned what it describes as "obviously unfounded accusations" made by Malian foreign minister Abdelaye Diop, in a letter sent to the United Nations Security Council.

Diop accused France of supplying "weapons" and collecting "intelligence for the benefit of terrorist groups" operating in Mali. He also alleged France was carrying out "espionage" and "intimidation" of the Malian Armed Forces.

In a statement released on Thursday, the French foreign ministry said France's military withdrawal from Mali was "carried out in complete transparency with the Malian armed forces."

"We condemn… the manipulation of information which must in no way divert attention from the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the country where the people are the primary victims," it said.

"France will relentlessly pursue the fight against terrorism in the Sahel and West Africa."

It comes after France ended its anti-terror operations in Mali. No French service personnel have been present in the West African country since the closure of the remaining French military base on August 15.

A total of 53 French armed forces personnel have died since the start of fighting in the vast scrubland area in 2013.

The southern Sahara, or Sahel region, stretches from Mauritania on the Atlantic Ocean coast, through Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, to Chad in the east. Across the region, rival armed groups had been clashing with national troops and foreign forces made up mostly of European personnel, the majority of whom had been from France.

The former colonial power has had its fighter jets, helicopters, drones and thousands of troops engaged in Operation Barkhane, the name given to France's mission. The objective of the mission had been to disrupt and dismantle armed groups in the loosely-governed areas of the Sahel region.

On February 17, the French president said he wanted his country's troops to leave Mali within six months.

Earlier this week, the Elysee Palace said: "...noting that the political and operational conditions were no longer met to remain engaged in Mali, France decided, in consultation with its African and European partners, to reorganize Operation Barkhane outside Malian territory."

The ruling military junta in Mali also called on French troops to leave, with accusations that Russian mercenaries linked to the private Wagner militia group have taken the place of French troops.