Niger agrees to deploy French and European forces to leave Mali

Niger has agreed to deploy French and European forces to withdraw from neighboring Mali to ensure the security of its border with the neighboring country, the Nigerian president announced on Twitter today.

In his first statements since France announced yesterday that it would withdraw from Mali, along with its military partners, Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum said the force would be able to respond to threats from jihadists in the region.

Some 2,400 French troops have been deployed in Mali to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamic State militants, and about 900 members of the French-led Special Forces in Takuba are expected to leave Mali in the coming days. months.

“Our goal is for our border with Mali to be secure,” Bazoum said, adding that he expected threats from jihadist groups to increase following the withdrawal of French and European troops.

“This area will be filled even more by terrorist groups that will be reinforced. We know it is certain that they will expand their influence,” he added.

For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said today that the fight against Islamist organizations in Mali is now exclusively a matter for the country’s authorities.

“It’s Mali’s problem, it’s no longer France’s problem,” he said in an interview with LCI.

SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ

Source: Capital

You may also like