We know more about the reorganization of the French military system in the Sahel. The G5 countries – Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad – met on Friday, July 9, via video conference. French President Emmanuel Macron attended the second sequence of this summit. One month after announcing the gradual end of Operation Barkhane, he presented the outlines of the new French military system in the region. With two missions: to continue the fight against terrorism against AQIM and the Islamic State and to support the “growth” of the national armies in the G5 Sahel countries.
The reconfiguration of the French system in the Sahel will begin “in the coming weeks. The bases in Kidal, Tessalit and Timbuktu in northern Mali will be closed at the end of the year. The idea was to continue the “reoriented” French military operation in the Three Borders area, Mali-Burkina-Niger. In the end, there will only be “2,500 to 3,000” French soldiers in the region, compared to a little more than 5,000 at present for the Barkhane force, which is almost half as many.
Emmanuel Macron announces an “enhanced partnership” with Takuba, the European unit for special forces, of which France will remain the “ramnation”, with a command post based in Niamey. The Saber force – the French special forces in Ouagadougou – remains in place.
Joint operations with the national armies of the G5 countries will continue, Emmanuel Macron promises to accelerate their “rise” with training or equipment.
Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum declared himself “in agreement” with this “rationalization”, insofar as French air and intelligence assets remain included in the new entity.
.
