IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES
The bodies of the thirteen French soldiers killed accidentally in Mali arrived in France where a national tribute will be paid to them on Monday, in a context of reflections and increasing questions about the military engagement of France in the Sahel.
>> Before the departure to France of the heavy carrier carrying the 13 coffins, their companions in arms in Mali had paid them a last tribute on the basis of Gao:
© Armed Forces Staff / ECPAD
"The bodies are in France," said the spokesman of the staff, Frederic Barbry, stressing that the time was at "family time" before the national tribute that will be returned to them on Monday to the Invalides in Paris, in the presence of the Head of State.
The death of the 13 soldiers, killed Monday in the collision between a Tigre combat helicopter and a Cougar transport commandos during an operation against jihadists, created a huge shock in France, where the army had not recorded such loss since the bombing of the French headquarters Drakkar in Beirut in 1983 (58 dead). It has also revived the issues around the French commitment to the Sahel, where the security situation continues to worsen, even if Jean-Luc Mélenchon's insubordinate France is openly demanding the return of the troops.
© Armed Forces Staff / ECPAD
Throughout the week, the French government has reiterated that France's anti-jihadist military action, which has been active in the region since 2013, was "indispensable" and necessary for the security of not only the area but also Europe. The fight of France in the Sahel "is a long time," reiterated Sunday the Minister of Armies Florence Parly in an interview at the JDD.
"This region is at the gateway to Europe," she warned, echoing Emmanuel Macron's call for greater involvement of European allies in the region. Paris aims to add European Special Forces next year to support local armies in combat.
© Armed Forces Staff / ECPAD
The head of state had said Thursday want to reconsider the strategy of the French force in the Sahel. "In the coming weeks, an in-depth work will be requested from the government and our armies to look at the modalities of our interventions," he said. Possible options may include "an effort (particular) in an area", as well as diplomacy, development and "governance" of the countries concerned, often accused of inertia or inefficiency, said Friday on RFI the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General François Lecointre.