The staff of the armies launched an investigation into the conditions of this death, in particular in order to establish whether it was a civilian, therefore a potential collateral victim, or a member of a terrorist armed group.
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For the first time since the beginning of France’s commitment to the Sahel, in 2014, as part of the operation “Barkhane”, the staff of the armies recognized, Tuesday, October 19, having killed A woman during an operation.
According to the first items communicated by the staff, the facts took place on Monday, October 18, near the RN 16, east of Gossi, south of the city of Gao, where is the One of the latest active bases of France in Malian territory. It was a footprint, conducted by French troops and a Malian unit.
The narrative delivered by the staff is the following. During this mission, two individuals in motorcycle were detected. At the sight of French and Malian soldiers, they abandoned the craft and rested in a wood. An assault rifle, ammunition and a military bag were discovered near the bike. The military then started the pursuit of one of the two individuals. Four summons were made to stop it, but it would have remote yet.
“At the approach of an overdraft, the French soldiers resume a visual contact with one of the two individuals who stopped about 200 meters from their position. The individual returns to the soldiers, who apply A neutralization shot. The soldiers join the position of the neutralized individual. They discover that it is a woman, “detailed the army staff in her communiqué.
Gold, according to complementary details obtained by Le Monde, no weapon has been found near the body of the victim. By far, his outfit would have been confusing because it was a tunic as men can wear. The French military would have thought of dealing with a man. The nearest village inhabitants have been called to identify this person, but none knew it. Decision has therefore been taken to bury it, in accordance with the rules of use, “so as not to abandon the body”, according to the staff of the armies.
A “armed conflict. International Legal
The “Barkhane” force commander opened a command investigation to clarify the exact evidence of the facts and “have complete lighting on this combat action”. During their operations, the “Barkhane” military may have to observe women and children living “nearby” terrorist armed groups, remarks a source close to the file. However, so far they had never been faced with a woman as part of clashes as close to the Sahel.
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