Is the army starting a gradual disengagement in the Sahel? France will “very probably” reduce the strength of its anti-jihadist Barkhane force after “significant military successes” in 2020, declared the French Minister of the Armed Forces, while denouncing the “pernicious methods” of the jihadists after the death of five soldiers French in Mali. “We will most likely have to adjust this device: reinforcement by definition is temporary,” said Florence Parly in a daily interview. The Parisian to be published on Monday, January 4, 2021 after the reinforcement of 600 soldiers which brought the strength of Barkhane to 5,100 men in 2020.
A decision will be taken at the next joint summit of France and the G5 Sahel countries in February in N’Djamena, added Florence Parly. In 2020, the Barkhane force achieved “significant military successes, both by neutralizing several senior officials of terrorist groups and by attacking their logistics chains,” continued the Minister of the Armed Forces. The leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Algerian Abdelmalek Droukdal, was killed in northern Mali in June. France also announced the “neutralization” in November of Bah Ag Moussa, described as the “military leader” of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
“Terrorists use the weapon of cowards »
Three French soldiers were killed on Monday in a homemade explosive device attack claimed by the GSIM, and two others on Saturday in similar circumstances. “Yes, the security conditions in the Sahel remain difficult. Terrorists use the weapon of cowards “, launched Florence Parly, affirming that these homemade devices are triggered” indifferently “to the passage of civilian and military vehicles. “If the jihadists adopt these pernicious methods of guerrilla warfare, it is because they refuse the fight, aware that they would have no chance if they had to confront Barkhane’s soldiers in a regular fight,” he said. she judged. The five soldiers were killed while traveling in “LAV”, light armored vehicles of antiquated design.
“I hope we can do more to better protect our soldiers,” noted Florence Parly, without further details. The minister once again ruled out any negotiation “with terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda or Daesh, which murder indiscriminately and have blood on their hands”. But the door is open for “people who have laid down their arms and who are not motivated by a radical and criminal ideology,” she noted. They must join the Algiers peace accords of 2015, she added.
Faced with the persistence of jihadist violence, coupled with inter-community conflicts, the transitional authorities in Mali do not rule out entering into negotiations with armed groups, just like President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, overthrown by a putsch in August.
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