Sahel: the French force commander discusses the evolution of Barkhane
The commander of the French force Barkhane, Laurent Michon, was in Ouagadougou to meet the Burkinabè President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Friday, September 17, 2021. © OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP
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In Burkina Faso, the new force commander Barkhane met President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
General Laurent Michon, came to discuss the new articulation of the French force in the Sahel.
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With our correspondent in Ouagadougou,
Yaya Boudani
The new commander spoke with President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré about the Barkhane force in the Sahel and the evolution of its presence.
Soon the French soldiers will withdraw from Kidal, Tessalit and Timbuktu according to General Laurent Michon: "
There is, in Kidal already today,
" a reconstituted battalion "
as it is called, but which is a normal battalion of Malian armed forces of about 400 men.
There is also a Minusma garrison already.
So our presence had become symbolic.
"
Continue to fight against EIGS
Despite the elimination of the leader of the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (EIGS) group, force commander Barkhane warns that the pressure must be maintained, with increased vigilance. We will also witness a rise in the strength of the Takuba task force with the arrival of new European partners, assures General Laurent Michon: “
We all know that the EIGS will be able, even if it is very disorganized, to reconstitute little by little and will not give up its fight of predation and its exactions, its terrorist totalitarianism.
The fight
is not over
, but it is a real collective victory.
"
Force Commander Barkhane took the opportunity to reaffirm to the Burkinabè President France's position on the possible deployment of members of the private security company “Wagner” on Malian soil.
"
The arrival of mercenaries is incompatible with France's engagement in Mali,
" recalled force commander Barkhane.
►Also read: Mali: why are the negotiations between Bamako and Wagner causing so much tension?
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