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· France’s Ministry of Defense announced recently in Paris that it would resume joint operations with the Malian armed forces. It has deployed more than 5,000 troops in the Sahel region
· This crucial decision comes after France suspending bilateral cooperation following a second coup in Mali in May
· France a month ago decided to suspend joint operations with the Malian forces, which was aimed at purging jihadists
France’s Ministry of Defense announced recently in Paris that it would resume joint operations with the Malian armed forces. It has deployed more than 5,000 troops in the Sahel region. This crucial decision comes after France suspending bilateral cooperation following a second coup in Mali in May.
The announcement came after consultations with the Malian transitional authorities and the countries of the region. France said it had taken note of the commitments of the Malian transitional authorities, which was endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
France a month ago decided to suspend joint operations with the Malian forces, which was aimed at purging jihadists. French military has been helping and training soldiers from the Sahel region consisting of Mali, Chad, Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso to counter extremists in the Sahel area.
The Barkhane force, the military group formed in Mali in 2013, after France intervened to fend off a jihadist advance, will now continue to operate. Recently, on 25 May, Colonel Assimi Goïta orchestrated the ouster of president Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. This had raised doubts about his commitment for holding the elections.
