France President Emmanuel Macron announced that the Anti-Terrorism Operation “Barhahan”, which was held in the African Sahel (Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Nieceles) from 2014, will soon be completed. It quotes Reuters.
According to him, the format of the presence of French troops in the region will be revised. Now about 5.1 thousand servicemen are involved in the operation zone. Reuters notes that the long-term operation has not brought big results.
Shortly before this announcement in Mali, where, including the French campaign, a military coup took place. On the night of May 25, the military arrested the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense of the Provisional Government. Politicians were delivered to the military base in the city of Kati outside the capital Bamako.
The head of the military coup in Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, declared the “president of the transition period.” The previous military coup in Mali occurred less than a year ago, in August 2020.
The fight against militants in the Sahel has caused almost unconditional support for the citizens of France. Each year since the beginning of the military operation in 2013, studies have shown: more than half of the French surveyed support the actions of the government. The exception was the 2021th: in January, the majority – 51 percent – still expressed the conclusion of troops from Africa.