French brigadier-chef Andy Fila died in north-central Africa  Chad on July 31, 2020.   / Etat Major des Armées

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

A French Operation Barkhane soldier was killed Friday in a maintenance operation in north-central Africa nation Chad after a piece of equipment exploded, the defense ministry said.  Andy Fila,  a 25-year-old,  a brigadier-chef of the infantry regiment,  was fatally hit by the explosion of a gas cylinder while carrying out an intervention on a refrigeration unit at the Kossei base in N’Djamena,  the ministry said in a statement. Fila, a soldier  of the 14th infantry regiment of Toulouse,  was an electro-mechanic specialist.

Profonde tristesse à l’annonce du décès accidentel du brigadier-chef Andy FILA de l’opération #Barkhane sur le camp Kossei à N’Djamena. J’assure à sa famille et à ses frères d’armes du #14RISLP tout mon soutien et celui de l’@armeedeterre. pic.twitter.com/e0FtHKgvw0

— Chef d'état-major de l'armée de Terre (@CEMAT_FR) July 31, 2020

“Un accident survenu lors de travaux sur la base de N’Djamena a provoqué la mort du brigadier-chef Andy Fila, militaire de l’opération Barkhane. Mes pensées vont à sa famille et ses frères d’armes. Je souhaite un prompt rétablissement au militaire également blessé lors de ce drame.”

-France  Ministre des Armées Florence Parly 

44 FRENCH SOLDIERS KILLED IN AFRICA SAHEL SINCE  2014

1st Class Parachute Hussar Tojohasina Razafintsalama, of the France  1st Parachute Hussar Regiment of Tarbes, died in action Jul. 23, 2020   in Mali. /  Etat Major des Armées

 On July, 23, 2020,  Tojohasina Razafintsalama, a  soldier of the French force Barkhane in the west Africa Sahel was killed   in the region of Gossi, in the center of Mali, during fighting against  armed terrorist groups, the Elysee said.    Razafintsalama, 25-years-old,   born in Mahazarivo, Madagasca, was  killed  when an improvised explosive device was triggered next to his armoured vehicle. During the explosion, two other soldiers present in the vehicle, which was on a reconnaissance mission, were also injured, then evacuated in serious condition to the military hospital in Gao before being repatriated in the evening.

In May 2020, a soldier from France’s Foreign Legion died from wounds sustained during in an operation against jihadists in Mali.  Thursday’s death brings to 43 the number of soldiers killed from France’s Operation Barkhane in the Sahel region since it first stationed troops there in 2013 to help train and assist local forces against Islamic insurgents.   At the start of 2020,  Barkhane’s strength increased from 4,500 to 5,100 soldiers. Paris hopes this reinforcement will help reverse the balance of power on the ground, where jihadist groups have stepped up attacks in recent months.  Last November 2019, two helicopters collided, killing  13 French soldiers fighting Islamic State group-linked extremists in Mali,   its highest military death toll in nearly four decades.  French Foreign Legion units are  part of France’s Operation Barkhane .   Launched  in 2014, the operation replaced Operation Serval (in Mali, 2013-14) and Operation Épervier (in Chad, 1986-2014). Five  five countries are targeted by Operation Barkhane – Mali, Chad, Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso.