Maël Hassani, edited by Gauthier Delomez 6:54 p.m., August 15, 2022, modified at 6:55 p.m., August 15, 2022
The last French soldiers from Operation Barkhane in Mali left the country on Monday August 15 around 1 p.m. Paris time, the general staff announced.
It is a page in the history of the operation, which began nine years ago, which is turning, but that does not mean its end, deciphers General Dominique Trinquand on Europe 1.
It is in a heavy and hostile climate that the French army officially left Mali on Monday August 15, ending Operation Barkhane in the country against a backdrop of tensions with the ruling junta, favorable in particular to Russia.
The operation continues however, but will now be based in other countries of the Sahel, Chad or Niger.
"It is the end of an era and of an operation which has won a certain number of successes, but which has experienced natural wear and tear after nine years", analyzes General Dominique Trinquand at the microphone of Europe 1 .
“There is always an operation in progress”
This specialist in international relations recalls that "France had decided to leave after a disagreement with the putschist government of Mali, and it had decided to leave before the end of the summer. It is done, despite the threats of the Malian government. who asked to leave immediately."
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For General Dominique Trinquand, this departure of the last French soldiers at 1 p.m. on Monday does not mean the stopping of Barkhane.
"It's not the end of an operation. There is still one in progress, in particular with Niger, Chad or Burkina Faso, with which there are agreements so that France continues to help the African forces to fight against the jihadists," he said.
Monday evening, a UN expert deplores the deleterious climate currently reigning in Mali.