“A national tribute will be paid to these three brave soldiers next week in Verdun”, said the Prime Minister, saluting their “military heroism”.
Le Monde avec AFP
Prime Minister Jean Castex paid tribute on Thursday 31 December to the three French soldiers who died Monday in Mali in the explosion of a mine, expressing in front of the troops of the Barkhane force in N’Djaména, Chad, its “deep sadness” but also the “determination” of France in the face of terrorism.
“By rereading in the plane that took me to to you the whole of the military file (…), but also the biographies of your three brothers in arms, I felt both the luck that our country has to be able to count on soldiers like you, but also a profound sadness, ”the prime minister said during a ceremony at Camp Kossei, where Barkhane’s command is based. “But this sadness must never bring us down, quite the contrary. Our determination must only be stronger,” added Mr. Castex, insisting on the “intact will” to fight Islamist terrorism in the Sahel.
“Military heroism”
On Monday, three soldiers were killed in the “three borders” area (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso), bringing to 47 the number of dead men in the Sahel since 2013 in the Serval and then Barkhane operations.
Brigadier-chef Tanerii Mauri and first class hunters Quentin Pauchet and Dorian Issakhanian, who belonged to the 1 st regiment of hunters of Thierville-sur-Meuse (Meuse), were on an escort mission between Hombori and Gossi, in an area bordering Niger and Burkina Faso.
“A national tribute will be paid to these three brave soldiers next week in Verdun”, indicated Mr. Castex, saluting their “military heroism”. The Prime Minister, who awakens in the company of the Minister of the Armies, Florence Parly, Thursday evening with the troops stationed in N’Djaména, will go Friday to meet the contingents of Faya-Largeau (northern Chad) and Abéché (east).