France withdraws military from Mali
The French Defense General Staff announced on Monday that with the transfer of the Menaka base to the Malian forces, France will withdraw its troops from Mali and position the troops in Niger.
It has been stated by President Emmanuel Macron as part of the plan to redefine the Barkhane Forces outside Mali as part of Operation Barkhane, launched in 2014 to combat terrorism in the G5 countries comprising France, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania.
France moved troops to the Projected Air Base (BAP) in Niamey in Niger, where it was announced that support will be given so that the local population can benefit from quality education, health and infrastructure projects while continuing counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel region.
In Mali, where tensions against France have escalated, France was demanded to leave the country after Mali’s military government cancelled the defence cooperation agreement that regulates the status of French forces (SOFA) in May.
