Paris plans to withdraw several hundred troops to make way for a stronger European presence in the conflict-affected region.
Less than a year after sending hundreds of additional troops to the Sahel, France is hoping to reduce its military presence in the troubled region to make way for greater European engagement.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Defense Minister Florence Parly have made rapid visits to Mali over the past few weeks to help the government assess the French presence in the Sahel, the region south of the Sahara where thousands of troops have been stationed since 2014 the Barkhane force.
“We are nearing the end of the year, a natural point to assess our progress,” Parly said during her visit.
President Emmanuel Macron said in the summer that France would restructure Barkhane by the end of the year.
According to several military sources that have spoken to AFP and asked not to be named, France is planning to withdraw several hundred troops from its current contingent of 5,100 men.
This would bring it back to the levels it was set in before a surge in activity in January, when an increasing number of attacks increased the presence of French forces.
The Ministry of Defense declined to comment on plans to reduce troops.
“Uniquely weakened”
Barkhane has achieved some important victories in collaboration with his local partners, in particular against the Islamic State in the Great Sahara Group (ISGS) in the border region between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
ISGS is now “uniquely weakened,” said Barkhane commander General Marc Conruyt, “although we must remain vigilant.”
Experts say a major vulnerability exploited by militants is the inability of many central governments in the region to secure and supply distant areas after a military victory.
Often they cannot offer protection, education and basic services so that the local population can take care of themselves, even against the resurgence of armed groups.
Another group, the Al-Qaeda Group in Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), has meanwhile used the French focus on ISGS to build its own strength.
“You are now the most dangerous enemy for Mali and the international armed forces,” said Conruyt.
Since 2013, 50 French soldiers have died in the Sahel, leading to a soul-searching for the cost of the conflict.
“Seven years later, the situation on the ground is not developing favorably, despite our great tactical successes,” warned French MP Thomas Gassilloud, describing the costs of the Sahel operation as “big, too big”.
To ease the burden, France is hoping for more military support from its European partners through the Takuba Task Force, which is helping Mali fight armed groups.
Soldiers from Estonia took part in a mission last month and a Czech contingent is expected shortly, along with Sweden in 2021.
“France has been alone for a long time, but it is no longer alone,” said Parly. “I am very optimistic that we will change gears now,” she said.
France also hopes that its African partners in the region will be able to ensure their own security once the worst threat posed by the foreign alliance is removed.
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