Operation Barkhane
Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda took control of the desert north of Mali in early 2012, exploiting a Tuareg separatist uprising.
France began a military intervention the next year that evolved into the current Operation Barkhane deployment with a mandate for counter-terror operations across the Sahel region, encompassing Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
Around 4,500 French personnel are deployed, and they work alongside the G5 Sahel joint counter-terrorism force that aims to train 5,000 troops, as well as peacekeepers deployed to the United Nations Minusma stabilization mission in Mali.
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Apr- 2018 -26 AprilAfrica
France confirms special forces clashes with armed rebels in northwest Mali
A clash between French soldiers and an armed jihadist group in northwest Mali left three "terrorists" dead, an army spokesperson said, while local media reported injuries among French special forces.
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15 AprilAfrica
Mali militants disguised as peacekeepers attack French and UN bases killing one, injuring dozens
A rocket and car bomb attack by militants wearing blue helmets left one UN peacekeeper dead, a dozen wounded and another dozen French soldiers hurt at Timbuktu's airport area
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12 AprilAfrica
Facing Mali equipment shortfalls, the UN asks Canada to deploy helicopters in June
The United Nations is in talks with Canada for early deployment of six helicopters to its Minusma peacekeeping force in Mali, and its representative pointed to other equipment shortfalls
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5 AprilAfrica
Dozens of militants killed in joint operation in Mali, French military says
Thirty militants were killed in a clash with French and Malian troops in Akabar near Mali's border with Niger, the French military said
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Mar- 2018 -23 MarchAfrica
Mali PM visits Kidal for first time since 2014, a day after 5 French soldiers injured in attack
Mali's Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga made a landmark visit to the restive northern town of Kidal on Friday, the first since 2014 by a head of government to to the area
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22 MarchAfrica
Estonia seeks mandate to send 50 troops to reinforce French-led Mali mission
Estonia's government said it would ask parliament for a mandate to send 50 troops to Mali for one year as part of France's Operation Barkhane mission
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Jan- 2018 -18 JanuaryEurope
UK announces deployment of additional Chinook helicopters to Mali ahead of Macron visit
The UK will send three additional Chinook helicopters to Mali for French counter-terrorism operations, the UK government said
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