How Barkhane plans to redeploy to Niger
Audio 01:09
Destaque na imprensa francesa para decisão da France de setirar do Mali, de pois de nove anos de operações militares contra o terrorism.
AP - Jerome Delay
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
A few days or weeks before the vote in the Nigerien Assembly on the military cooperation agreement between the Nigerien army and Barkhane, the French army is preparing.
Since March 1, Colonel Hervé Pierre, the new commander who will coordinate Barkhane's withdrawal from Mali, has settled in Niamey.
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With our correspondent in Niamey,
Moussa Kaka
For its future deployment in Niger, the partnership command is setting up its headquarters in Niamey surrounded by its staff.
Colonel Hervé Pierre, who took part in operations Licorne, Serval and Sangaris, tells us about the withdrawal from Mali: “
It's a logistical and operational maneuver, of course.
And it is obviously an extremely complex manoeuvre
”.
While preparing, the air assets of Barkhane continue to carry out reconnaissance.
Strikes even took place, 48 hours ago: “
About fifteen GATs [Terrorist armed groups, editor’s note] were neutralized
, according to the senior officer.
So finally, we have men who are engaged within the framework of the Almahaou alongside the Nigerien armed forces and who fight every day.
»
Barchan |
Yesterday, near the Malo-Nigerian border, identification of an armed terrorist group belonging to the EIGS traveling on a motorcycle towards Ménaka.
15 terrorists neutralized by an airstrike.
Another attack avoided.
The fight goes on.
pic.twitter.com/7GUzBwEr4F
- French Army - Military Operations (@EtatMajorFR) March 25, 2022
Hunt down jihadists in border regions
Barkhane expects a positive vote from deputies in favor of the military cooperation agreement which will be submitted to their assessment.
“
Once a decision is made, we will enter into a close dialogue with the Nigerien general staff to know exactly how to describe it.
»
Once their presence has been accepted by the Nigeriens, the French soldiers will settle in the border regions to fight the GAT.
"
The border regions are regions conducive to GATs for getting supplies, for hiding, for settling and so that's where you'll have to go get them, of course
," agrees the colonel.
Barkhane will then be a stone's throw from the Malian border.
►Also read: Guest Africa - General Laurent Michon (Barkhane): "The populations with whom we (operate) are rather sad to see us leave"
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