A French military helicopter over the Nigerien town Madama, which serves as a forward operating base for the French, Niger and Chad armies as part of Operation Barhkane counter-terror mission in the Sahel. (Credit: Wikipedia Commons)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON DC – PENTAGON – The U.S. Department of Defense will continue to support France as the French military is set to end its Operation Barkhane counter-terror mission in the African Sahel this year. French President Macron announced last July that France will cease its mission to fight jihadism in the Sahel in the first quarter of this year. France will then gradually reduce troops in the Sahel from its current 5,100 soldiers to 2,500 by the year 2023. The Pentagon remains committed to supporting France in its counter-terror efforts in the Sahel region, a spokesperson said.
“I think it’s too soon to tell. But nothing will change about our commitment to continue to support France in these efforts. So broadly speaking, that doesn’t change. How they change their footprint of their operations is really for them to speak to, but the secretary was very clear, and we’ve been consistent. We’re going to continue to support them as they need it, and as their needs change, regardless of footprint, and as their needs change, we’ll adapt our support to best meet their requirements, and frankly, ours too, because we have a shared security interest in -in dealing with the terrorism threats there in the Sahel.”
-Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Jan. 18, 2022.
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby briefs reporters at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.
U.S. Defense Secretary Austin assured France of American’s continued support of French Counter-Terror Mission in Sahel
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly last September over the phone to discuss the evolving situation in the Sahel. Secretary Austin “applauded French leadership in countering terrorism in the region and assured her of continued U.S. support for this important mission.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. (Photo: DOD)
France Says It will not abandon Sahel Counter-terrorism Fight
Florence Parly: "Nous ne quittons pas le Sahel, la lutte contre le terrorisme reste notre priorité absolue" pic.twitter.com/gemuCgiPhs
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) September 16, 2021
52 French Soldiers Killed in Sahel Operation Barkhane Since 2013
(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.
Operation Barkhane, the an ongoing anti-insurgent operation started in 2013 , led by the French military against Islamist groups in Africa’s Sahel region has resulted in multiple deaths of France’s soldiers.
Since the beginning of the Operation Barhkane, 52 French soldiers have died, about 8,000 civilians have been killed in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso and 2 million have been displaced by the fighting. Mali is currently a political mess, having gone through two military coups last year. Now there is a real risk the country could come under Islamist influence by the very extremists that France is waging counter-terror war against. Operation Barkhane is a $1 Billion per year mission.
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
