France Operation Barkhane deploys  5,100 soldiers in the African Sahel combatting terrorism

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Two French soldiers were killed in operation around Ménaka in Mali early Saturday when their light armored vehicle exploded on contact with an improvised explosive device, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced. A third soldier was injured. The deadly incident came just five days after three French Operation Barkhane soldiers were killed in Mali on Monday when their armored vehicle was hit by an explosive device in the region of Hombori.

“France has lost two of its children. I pay tribute to the strength of the commitment of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loïc Risser, of the 2nd Hussar Regiment of Haguenau. They embody the honor and bravery of the Chamborant hussars. My thoughts are with their families. “

-Florence Parly,    France  Minister of the Armed Forces

La France a perdu deux de ses enfants. Je rends hommage à la force de l’engagement du sergent Yvonne Huynh et du brigadier Loïc Risser, du 2e régiment de hussards de Haguenau. Ils incarnent l'honneur et la bravoure des hussards de Chamborant. Mes pensées vont à leurs familles. pic.twitter.com/91r9oCXByh

— Florence Parly (@florence_parly) January 2, 2021

“The Minister of the Armed Forces bows with respect to the memory of these two soldiers who died for France. It pays tribute to the strength of their commitment, their courage and their self-sacrifice which do honor to the bravery of the Chamborant hussars, whose intelligence missions are essential to the conduct of operations. France never forgets those who, for her, for her freedom and for her values, fight and commit themselves to the end. Alongside the Sahelian armies, European military forces and all of France’s partners including the United States, the French armed forces continue their bitter fight against terrorist groups while supporting the Sahelian armed forces in combat so that they can ensure the protection of their fellow citizens and territory.”

50  FRENCH SOLDIERS KILLED IN AFRICA SAHEL SINCE  2014

(credit: defense.gouv.fr)  BCH Tanerii MAURI, 1 CL Quentin PAUCHET and 1 CL Dorian ISSAKHANIAN of the 1st Chasseurs regiment of Thierville-sur-Meuse were killed Dec. 28, 2020 in the region of Hombori, Mali.

On Dec. 28, 2020,  during a convoy escort mission, BCH Tanerii MAURI, 1 CL Quentin PAUCHET and 1 CL Dorian ISSAKHANIAN of the 1st Chasseurs regiment of Thierville-sur-Meuse died in the armored vehicle explosion in West Africa nation Mali.  According to the Ministry of Armies, the soldiers were operating in an area where terrorist groups were attacking civilian populations and threatening regional stability. 

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

On Sep. 5, 2020, two French soldiers died after their armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in a military operation in Mali’s northeastern Kidal region.

On Jul. 31, 2020, a French Operation Barkhane soldier was killed in a maintenance operation in north-central Africa nation Chad after a piece of equipment exploded, the defense ministry said. 

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.  The three soldiers killed Monday December 28  brings to 47 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. 

FRANCE  OPERATION   BARKHANE  Deploys 5,100 Troops in SAHEL 

Sources : EMA  /  Rights : France  Ministère de la Défense

La stratégie sahélienne de la France vise à ce que les États partenaires acquièrent la capacité, d’assurer leur sécurité de façon autonome. Elle repose sur une approche globale (politique, sécuritaire et de développement) dont le volet militaire est porté par l’opération Barkhane, conduite par les armées françaises.