Macron officially declares end to French military mission in Mali

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has officially declared the end of the Barkhane anti-terrorism mission in Mali after the last French soldiers left the West African country in August.

After the nine-year mission, France will continue its involvement in the Sahel but will change its strategy, Macron said on Wednesday in Toulon in the south of France. France wants to focus on temporary missions based on a broad partnership instead of missions without a time frame, he said.

Tensions in Mali had led to the end of the Barkhane mission. “Our engagement in Africa must focus on a logic of cooperation and support for the armies there,” said Macron. “WE will launch a phase of exchanges with our African partners and allies in the coming days to develop the status and missions of the current bases in the Sahel and West Africa.” A strategy for this should be available within six months, he said.

About 3,000 French soldiers are still stationed in Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso. Several armed groups are active in the Sahel region, which stretches south of the Sahara from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.