Jean Castex will spend his New Years Eve with the French soldiers of Operation Barkhane in Chad.

The opportunity for the Prime Minister to initiate a reflection with President Idriss Déby on the maintenance of the tricolor soldiers on the spot.

Emmanuel Macron could indeed announce, in January or February, the gradual withdrawal of 500 to 600 soldiers.  

It is a rare enough thing to be reported.

For New Year's Eve 2020, it is Prime Minister Jean Castex, and not Emmanuel Macron, who will go among the French troops in Chad.

He will be accompanied by the Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly and the government spokesperson Gabriel Attal.

The opportunity for Jean Castex to heal his image with the soldiers of Operation Barkhane, but also to meet President Idriss Déby to initiate a reflection on the maintenance of French troops in the Sahel. 

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The political turning point for the release of 200 jihadists in October

Because the question of the future of Operation Barkhane is raised more and more during Defense councils at the Elysee Palace, as at the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Particularly after the liberation by the Malians last October of 200 jihadists captured by France.

A real political turning point in this operation, which began in 2013, which cost the lives of around fifty of our soldiers and whose bill amounts to more than 5 billion euros.

Although the 5,100 French soldiers on site are doing hard work in the fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel, the action of African forces has not yet made it possible to contain the threat.

Towards a gradual withdrawal of 500 to 600 soldiers? 

During his trip to Chad, Jean Castex should therefore discuss this point with Chadian President Idriss Déby, with a view to reducing the wing of the tricolor system on the spot.

Concretely, Emmanuel Macron asked Jean Castex to take the pulse of the troops, but above all to give him a comeback.

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 Why France is strengthening Operation Barkhane in the Sahel

If last January 13 Emmanuel Macron announced the sending of more than 500 additional soldiers on site following the G5 Sahel, the Head of State now seems to want to change his mind.

He would already have in mind to announce in January or February, the gradual withdrawal of 500 to 600 soldiers.