France Ends Nine-Year Military Mission In Mali

 

France 24: French army leaves Gao base, ending nine-year military mission in Mali 

The last soldiers belonging to France's Barkhane operation in Mali have now left the African country, the French chiefs of staff said on Monday. 

French forces have been supporting Mali against insurgents for nearly a decade, but President Emmanuel Macron decided to pull out after France and the Malian junta fell out in the wake of a military takeover in August 2020. 

"Today at 13H00 Paris time (1100 GMT) the final contingent of the Barkhane force still on Malian territory crossed the border between Mali and Niger," the statement said.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This withdrawal is happening at a time when Al Qaeda is coming back .... Analysis | Al-Qaeda and Islamic State are on the rise in Africa (Washington Post).  

Update: Germany has also halted its military mission in Mali .... Germany Halts Mali Mission as France Declares Completion of Mali Troop Withdrawal (OVD).

 France Ends Nine-Year Military Mission In Mali 

French Military: Last Group of Soldiers Has Left Mali -- AP  

France says its troops have left Mali, remains committed to helping Sahel -- Reuters  

France says Barkhane mission troops fully withdraw from Mali -- DW  

Last French troops leave Mali, ending nine-year deployment -- Al Jazeera  

French Forces Complete Departure From Mali -- VOA

Has France Abandoned Mali? France Says No. Mali Says Yes

 

RFI: Macron slams Mali claim of abandonment by France as 'shameful' 

President Emmanuel Macron has expressed outrage over recent claims by Mali interim Prime Minster that France had abandoned his country by drawing down its Barkhane force in the Sahel. 

Macron told RFI the accusations were "shameful". 

After the French foreign ministry and armed forces, President Macron took his turn to denounce comments Malian Prime Minister Choguel Maiga made to the UN last weekend, and he made no attempt at diplomacy.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: 'A disgrace': France's Macron slams Malian PM's 'abandonment' remarks (France 24)  

Update #2: France's Macron slams Malian PM's 'abandonment' remarks (The Independent)  

WNU Editor: It looks like Mali is shifting to receiving aid from Russia .... Taking Delivery of Copters, Mali Lauds Russia Partnership (Moscow Times/AFP).

France Denies Mali Claims That It Is Abandoning Them

 

France 24: France hits back at claim it is 'abandoning' Mali by withdrawing troops 

France hit back on Monday at the Malian prime minister's "indecent" and "unacceptable" claims that it is abandoning the war-torn country by drawing down troops from the restive Sahel region. 

"There is no French pullout," Defence Minister Florence Parly told a conference in Paris, two days after Mali's Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga accused Paris of walking away from the fight against jihadist insurgents in West Africa. 

"When you have thousands of troops on the ground [...] and deploy brand-new tanks in the Sahel, that is hardly the attitude of a country that is looking for a way out," said Parly, noting that Maïga's "indecent" allegations came a day after a French soldier was killed in the region – the 52nd fatality since the deployment of French forces in 2013. 

Read more .... 

More News On The Growing Split Between France And Mali  

Mali junta wiping its feet on blood of French soldiers, says angry France -- Reuters  

France rejects Mali 'abandonment' claim, insists election timetable be respected -- RFI  

France rejects Malian PM’s ‘indecent’ claim that Paris is abandoning the African nation -- RT 

Mali accuses France of abandoning country by reducing troops fighting jihadists -- 4 News  

Mali accuses France of abandonment, approaches 'private Russian companies' -- France 24  

Mali approaches 'Russian private companies', slams France at UN -- News 24/AFP  

Mali Seeking 'Better Ways' to Contain Terrorism -- VOA  

Mali seeks to hire Russian mercenaries, says Russian Foreign Minister -- CNN  

Lavrov says Mali asked private Russian military company for help -- Reuters 

Russia roasts West over Mali, Afghanistan pullout -- DW

French Minister In Mali To Pressure Government To end Talks To Bring In Russian Mercenaries

FILE PHOTO: French soldiers work on a Tiger attack helicopter at the Operational Desert Plateform Camp (PfOD) during the Operation Barkhane in Gao  

Reuters: French minister in Mali to pressure junta over Russian mercenaries 

BAMAKO (Reuters) -France's Armed Forces Minister arrived in Mali on Sunday to pressure the military junta to end talks to bring Russian mercenaries into the country and push it to keep a promise to return the country to constitutional order in February. 

Diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters that Mali's year-old military junta is close to recruiting the Russian Wagner Group, and France has launched a diplomatic drive to thwart it, saying such an arrangement is "incompatible" with a continued French presence. 

West Africa's main political bloc, ECOWAS, as well as other allies combating militants in the Sahel region, have also expressed concerns over the potential deal.  

Read more .... 

Update: France and Russia make a stand over which country will have the greater influence in Mali (France 24) 

WNU Editor: The Mali government has responded .... Mali says it can seek military help from anyone, despite French concern (Reuters). More here .... Mali bristles over warnings not to hire Russian 'mercenaries' (AFP), and here .... Mali's Junta Dismisses Warnings Not To Hire Russia's Wagner 'Mercenaries' (RFE).

France Resumes Joint Military Operations Against Islamist Militants In Mali

 

Euronews: France resumes military operations with Mali amid terror threat 

Just one month after Paris suspended bilateral cooperation with Mali following a coup in the West African nation, France said on Friday that it would resume joint military operations with Bamako after all. 

"Following consultations with the Malian transitional authorities and the countries of the region (...) France decided to resume joint military operations as well as national advisory missions, which had been suspended since June 3," the French Defence Ministry said in a statement. 

The statement cited the terror threat as the reason for the resumption of operations.  

Read more .... 

More News On France Resuming Joint Military Operations Against Islamist Militants In Mali  

France resumes joint military operations with Mali -- France 24  

France to resume military operations in Mali -- Middle East Monitor  

France takes U-turn, to resume military cooperation with Malian army -- Africa News  

France resumes joint military operations in Mali -- Al Jazeera

France Suspends Joint Military Operations With Malian Forces

FILE PHOTO: French soldiers keep watch during a military convoy's trip between Gossi and Hombori in Mali, March 26, 2019 © AFP / Daphne Benoit  

France 24: France suspends joint military operations with Malian forces 

France said Thursday it will suspend joint military operations with Malian forces after the country’s second coup in nine months, “awaiting guarantees” that civilians will return to positions of power. 

The decision comes after Mali’s military strongman Assimi Goita, who led last year’s coup, ousted the country’ civilian transitional president and prime minister last week in what French leader Emmanuel Macron has called a “coup d’etat in an unacceptable coup d’etat”. 

The move sparked diplomatic uproar, prompting the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to suspend Mali.

Read more .... 

More News On France Suspending Joint Military Operations With Malian Forces  

Mali: France suspends joint military operations -- DW  

Pressuring junta, France suspends joint military operations with Malian forces -- Reuters  

France halts joint army operations with Malian forces over coup -- Al Jazeera  

France suspends joint military operations with Mali in bid to force ruling junta to transfer power back to civilian leaders -- RT

French President Macron Threatens To Pull Troops From Mali If ‘Radical Islamism’ Takes Hold

 

France 24: Macron threatens to pull troops from Mali if ‘radical Islamism’ takes hold 

President Emmanuel Macron warned in comments published Sunday that France will pull its troops out of Mali if it lurches towards radical Islamism following the second coup in nine months. 

France has around 5,100 troops in the region under its so-called Barkhane operation which spans five countries in the Sahel -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. 

The mission, headquartered in Chad, was launched after France intervened to fend off a jihadist advance in Mali in 2013.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Macron threatens to withdraw French troops from Mali (BBC)  

Update #2: Macron warns of Mali withdrawal as coup leader summoned to Ecowas summit (RFI)  

WNU Editor: Mali's coup leader is heading to Ghana for emergency talks .... Mali coup leader heads to Ghana for ECOWAS crisis talks (Al Jazeera).

France Says It Killed Dozens Of Jihadists In A Weekend Air Strike In Central Mali

An aerial view of of Menaka, Mali on November 22, 2020. © Souleymane Ag Anara, AFP 

France 24: France says dozens of jihadists killed in weekend Mali air strike 

France said on Tuesday it had killed dozens of jihadists in a weekend air strike in central Mali, while several villagers and a local group said up to 20 wedding guests were killed by a helicopter. 

Social media has been buzzing with rumours since Sunday about events in Bounti, and villagers there told AFP that a wedding party was attacked by an unidentified helicopter. 

Separately, French military headquarters told AFP fighter jets had "neutralised" dozens of jihadists in central Mali after the group had been tracked for several days.

"The reports relating to a wedding do not match the observations that were made," an army spokesman told AFP. 

Read more ..... 

WNU Editor: Locals are sayng that this was a wedding .... Wedding guests killed in Mali airstrike, local sources say (The Guardian).

Two French Soldiers Killed In Northeastern Mali By An IED

 

France 24: Two French soldiers killed during operation in Mali 

Two French soldiers were killed in northeastern Mali on Saturday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. 

FRANCE 24's expert on jihadist networks, Wassim Nasr, said al Qaeda sources claimed responsibility for the attack. 

Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday, just days after three others died in similar fashion. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Al Qaeda is taking credit for this attack .... Al Qaeda-linked group says it was behind killing of French soldiers in Mali (Reuters). 

 More News On Today's Al Qaeda Attack Against French Soldiers In Mali 

Two French soldiers killed in Mali -French presidency -- Reuters 

Two French soldiers killed during mission in Mali -- AP 

Two French soldiers killed in Mali: French presidency -- Al Jazeera 

Al Qaeda-linked jihadist group claims deaths of French soldiers in Mali -- France 24 

Five French soldiers killed during single week in Mali -- The Telegraph

French Airstrikes In Mali Kill Dozens Of Jihadists Linked To Al Qaeda

Malian and French soldiers on patrol in Mali, where France has been aiding counter-insurgency efforts. (Reuters) 

France 24: Mali airstrikes kill dozens of jihadists linked to Al Qaeda, French government says 

The French government said Monday its forces had killed more than 50 jihadists aligned to Al-Qaeda in air strikes in central Mali. 

The offensive took place on Friday in an area near the borders of Burkina Faso and Niger, where government troops are struggling to rout an Islamic insurgency, French Defence Minister Florence Parly said after meeting members of Mali’s transitional government. 

“On October 30 in Mali, the Barkhane force conducted an operation that neutralised more than 50 jihadists and confiscated arms and material,” Parly said, referring to the French-led anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane. She added that around 30 motorcycles were destroyed. 

Read more .... 

Update: French forces neutralized over 50 jihadists Mali, says defence minister (Reuters) 

WNU Editor: This is France's forever war. 

French President Macron: Dozens Of Jihadists Killed In Mali By French Troops

Emmanuel Macron speaks during a visit to Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Photograph: Luc Gnago/Reuters

BBC: Mali conflict: Macron says 33 'terrorists' killed by French troops

French forces have killed 33 militants in an operation in Mali, according to President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Macron made the announcement on a visit to Ivory Coast, where he reiterated France's commitment to fighting jihadists in the region.

It comes weeks after 13 French troops died in a helicopter collision in Mali in the biggest single-day loss of life for its military since the 1980s.

Thousands of French troops have been deployed in Mali since 2013.

Its involvement came after Islamist militants overran parts of the north. With the help of France, Mali's army has recaptured the territory, but insecurity continues and violence has spread to neighbouring countries.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: France is currently plagued with massive strikes and unrest, but French President Macron is in Western Africa pledging more war .... Macron vows to keep fighting extremism in West Africa (Washington Post). Is it me, or are President Macron's priorities all mixed up?

More News On French President Macron Saying That Dozens Of Jihadists Were Killed In Mali By French Troops

French forces kill 33 Islamic extremists in Mali, says Macron -- Guardian/AP
France kills 33 militants in Mali raid: president -- Reuters
France kills 33 militants in Mali raid in attack on group linked to Al Qaeda -- ABC News Online
France's Macron says 33 'terrorists' killed in Mali operation -- Al Jazeera
In hostile Sahel, French troops battle an elusive foe -- AFP

13 French Soldiers Killed In Mali When Two Helicopters Collide Pursuing Militants

Daily Mail: 13 French soldiers are killed when two helicopters collide during anti-jihadist operation in Mali

* Six officers, six non-commissioned officers and a master corporal died Monday
* Two helicopters collided during operations against jihadists in the Sahel
* French President Emmanuel Macron lauded the 'courage of French soldiers'
* France has 4,500 troops in Mali to combat jihadists who have swept the region

Thirteen French soldiers were killed last night when two helicopters collided during an anti-jihadist operation in Mali.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed 'deep sadness' at the news of the crash in the Sahel and spoke of the 'courage of French soldiers.'

The dead included six officers, six non-commissioned officers and a master corporal. Monday's deaths brings the total number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel to 28.

Thousands of civilians and soldiers have died in violence across the Sahel which began when armed Islamists revolted in northern Mali in 2012.

Read more ....

More News On Today's Helicopter Accident That Killed 13 French Soldiers In Mali

Thirteen French soldiers killed in Mali helicopter accident -- France 24
French troops pursuing Mali militants killed in helicopter collision -- Reuters
13 French soldiers killed in helicopter collision in Mali -- AP
Thirteen French troops killed in helicopter crash in Mali -- BBC
Thirteen French soldiers killed in helicopter collision in Mali -- ABC News Online
13 French soldiers killed in mid-air helicopter collision in Mali -- Al Jazeera
13 French soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Mali -- CNN
Mali: 13 French soldiers killed in helicopter accident -- Euronews
Helicopter crash leaves 13 French troops dead in Mali -- The Guardian
France's grinding battle with Sahel jihadists -- France 24

Mali Is Not France's Afghanistan

A French soldier involved in the regional anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane patrols on March 10, 2016 in Timbamogoye. © Pascal Guyot, AFP

Stephanie Pezard and Michael Shurkin, War On The Rocks: Mali is France’s Afghanistan, But With a Difference

In a recent editorial in Le Monde, French journalist Christophe Ayad draws disturbing parallels between the French military operations in Mali — which will reach their five-year mark in January — and America’s involvement in Afghanistan. At first glance the comparison is compelling, and in some important ways, accurate. Yet these two interventions present some fundamental differences that make the Afghanistan case likely more intractable than Mali’s, and give reason for optimism in France.

Ayad’s argument relates to the course of the wars and the apparent bind in which the American and French militaries now find themselves. Ayad observes that in both cases a lightning offensive gave way to a grinding counter-insurgency. In neither case can one now discern an alternative to continuing indefinitely to pay in blood and treasure to prop up governments that frequently act in ways contrary to good sense or good strategy.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The French have been engaged in Mali for five years .... but unlike the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, the conflict in Mali is vastly different. The big difference being that extremists in Mali do not have a safe haven like the Taliban have in Pakistan .... where they can rest, rearm, train, and regroup. The French are also engaged with every African nation in this region who want to defeat these extremist groups, unlike Afghanistan where its neighbors are pursuing their own agenda to have influence in that country.