Paris (AFP)

The political world unanimously expressed Tuesday its emotion after the death of 13 soldiers engaged in the Sahel, where Emmanuel Macron's strategy of military engagement remains largely supported, even if a few cracks appear on the left.

The minutes of silence observed in the Senate and then in the National Assembly bore witness to the shock caused by the biggest single loss of the French army in 36 years.

The 13 soldiers who died in Mali "sacrificed their lives for our homeland," said Assembly President Richard Ferrand, summing up the tone of the tributes on the right and left.

Christian Jacob (LR) thus saluted the soldiers "gone to fight against Islamist barbarism", Olivier Faure (PS) those who "courageously pursue their fight against terrorism", Fabien Roussel (PCF) "soldiers mobilized in the fight counter terrorism "and Marine Le Pen (RN)" combat comrades who face jihadism ".

The time is "with the recollection" and not "the questioning on the merits" of the military engagement in the Sahel, underlined the Minister of the Armies, Florence Parly.

But, while expressing their "strong emotion", the deputies of La France Insoumise (LFI) posted their divergence. They called on the government to "open a serious and rational discussion to consider ways out" of the "war" in Mali. Because for them, "the meaning" of this conflict "escapes now many of our compatriots and Malians themselves".

Responding to LFI MP Bastien Lachaud, Prime Minister Philippe Philippe described military action in the Sahel as "indispensable" because it is in the "interest of our country". "The use of the armed forces is still political," he said, adding that the "political objectives" of the operation had "been affirmed and reaffirmed".

In January 2013, when President François Hollande launched Operation Serval, LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon was one of the few political leaders to express reservations as "questionable" this military commitment.

- no exit envisaged -

Since then, the rise of French engagement in the Sahel - in the context of Serval and Barkhane - has hardly been challenged or questioned on the political scene. The debates were limited when it is the largest French operation abroad, with 4,500 soldiers deployed and significant costs, which has so far resulted in the death of 41 French.

The hypothesis of an exit is not yet envisaged, as Édouard Philippe reaffirmed on 18 November in Dakar, calling for "to leave no chance, no hold" to the jihadist groups in the Sahel.

A few days earlier, Emmanuel Macron had announced that he would be called soon to "confirm and reinforce the commitment" of France in the region, including restating "the role of Barkhane".

By traveling abroad or participating in summits, such as the G7 summit in September, the President does not miss an opportunity to alert the international community to the worsening security situation in the Sahel, without hiding his frustration in front of him. the reluctance of many countries to engage with France. "I will call to order" partner countries "that had committed to the Alliance for the Sahel and sometimes delay in delivering their aid," he said on November 12.

"We are less and less alone in the Sahel," Florence Parly said Tuesday.

To the question: "Should we withdraw the army from Mali?", Senator LR Bruno Retailleau answered Tuesday: "Of course not." Because "France is at the forefront in the fight against Islamism, there and here, it is a war, there is no sealing between the inside and the outside", he explained, making the connection with the death of four officials during an attack at the police headquarters on 3 October.

The political class should pay tribute to 13 soldiers during a ceremony at the Invalides in the coming days. Before Emmanuel Macron celebrates the end-of-year holidays with soldiers deployed abroad, as he did in 2017 in Niger and in 2018 in Chad.

© 2019 AFP