For a few days, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, prepares the spirits. France plans to withdraw its troops from Mali, but the adaptation of its strategy to prevent the spread of Islamic insurrection south could be complex.
Le Monde with AFP and Reuters
Hostile messages of the junta in power in Mali, outstretched manifestations … The departure of French troops in Mali is a matter of time. For a few days, Jean-Yves the Drian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, prepares the spirits. He repeated, Monday, February 14, over France 5, adding that Emmanuel Macron had asked for the reorganization of the troops in the region.
“If the conditions are no longer met, which is clearly the case, so that it is possible to be able to act in Mali, the terrorism be combated next to the Sahel countries that are applicants. “
“The Mali is today directed by 5 colonels who took power. And it is with a junta of this type that it fits … https://t.co/5r8ccoscc
France plans to withdraw his troops from Mali, but the adaptation of his strategy to prevent the spread of Islamist insurrection south could be complex.
A French withdrawal would mean the departure of the European special forces group “Takuba”, the diplomats believing that political, operational and legal conditions to stay in Mali are increasingly difficult.
Foreign Ministers and Western diplomats have held discussions on the future presence of their countries in the fight against Islamist militants in Mali, after three weeks of consultations in a context of deterioration of relations between Mali and France, the main foreign military power in the Sahel region.
Perspective of the EU-Africa Summit
Many diplomatic sources said that regional and international leaders would meet Wednesday for a dinner in Paris, to discuss with the French President before an EU-Africa summit on Thursday. The French Presidency did not respond to a comment request. “The President wants us to reorganize ourselves. We do not start, but we will rearrange ourselves so that the fight against terrorism continues,” said Jean-Yves Le Drian.
France has already reduced its troops to the Sahel in order to reduce their number of about 5,000 to 2,500 or 3,000 by 2023. About half of these forces are based in Mali. The “Takuba” force has about 600 to 900 soldiers, 40% of which are French and includes medical and logistical teams. Rather, it is a symbolic force accompanying local troops.
Few diplomats think that it could survive a withdrawal of Mali, but Paris hopes to convince his allies to support the Gulf of Guinea countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Ghana, where It is feared that the Islamist insurrection does not spread, because of the porosity of the borders.