France ends anti-jihadist mission in Africa

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron yesterday announced that France was ending its Barkhane anti-jihadist mission in Africa after more than a decade, saying a new strategy would be worked out with African partners.

“I have decided, in co-ordination with our partners, to make official today the end of the Barkhane operation,” Macron said in a keynote speech on military policy.

The move was the “consequence of what we have experienced” in recent months and a new strategy would be worked out within the next half-year, he said.

“Our military support for African countries will continue, but according to new principles that we have defined with them,” said Macron.

He indicated that future strategy would be based on a closer co-operation with African armies to make France’s own deployment lighter and more dynamic.

French forces have faced hostility from some who see them as the ineffective occupying force of a former colonial power.

Macron pulled troops out of Mali this year as relations soured with the country’s military rulers.

Around 3 000 French solders remain in Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger.

There are no immediate plans for a reduction in numbers. |