Emmanuel Macron opens the way for a reduction of French troops in the Sahel

There are no numbers or timelines.

Emmanuel Macron mentioned, Tuesday February 19, during his wishes to the armies the possibility of reducing the number of French soldiers of the Barkhane force deployed in the Sahel. 

 "The results obtained by our forces in the Sahel, combined with the greater intervention of our European partners, will allow us to adjust our effort", declared Emmanuel Macron, in Brest.

Emmanuel Macron's wishes to the armies

📍 #EnDirect wishes to the armies of the President of the Republic, @EmmanuelMacron, from École des Mousses in @ BrestFr. # NotreDéfense # CohesionDéfense https://t.co/8ok4G7dSyZ

- Ministry of the Armed Forces (@Armees_Gouv) January 19, 2021

The Barkhane force, which fights jihadist groups mainly in Mali and Niger, currently has 5,100 soldiers, 600 of whom were sent as reinforcements a year ago, after the Pau summit bringing together the French president and his "G5 allies. Sahel ".

Fifty-five French soldiers have been killed in the Sahel since 2013 in the Serval and then Barkhane operations. 

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AFP

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Reuters

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