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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Nov- 2020 -13 NovemberAfrica
French Forces Kill Jihadist Commander Ba Ag Moussa in Mali
France announced its anti-jihadist force in Mali had killed Ba Ag Moussa, the military commander of the Al-Qaeda-aligned Group to Support Islam and Muslims linked to attacks in the region.
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6 NovemberAfrica
France Said to Plan Cuts in Sahel Force
France is hoping to cut back its military presence in the restive Sahel region to make room for a stronger European commitment, army sources say.
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5 NovemberAfrica
Elite European Anti-Jihadist Task Force Takuba Takes First Steps in Sahel
The Task Force Takuba's first mission was a sweep operation conducted in the lawless Mali-Burkina Faso border region last month, alongside local troops and French regulars.
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3 NovemberAfrica
French Airstrikes Kill Over 50 Qaeda-Linked Jihadists in Mali
The French government said Monday its forces had killed more than 50 jihadists aligned to Al-Qaeda in air strikes in central Mali.
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Oct- 2020 -19 OctoberAfrica
Dialogue Possible With Certain Sahel Jihadists: UN Chief
Dialogue may be possible with certain jihadist groups active in Africa's Sahel region, but not "radical" ones such as the Islamic State group, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Monday.
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Sep- 2020 -2 SeptemberAfrica
French Anti-Jihadist Forces Kill Civilian in Mali
French anti-jihadist troops in Mali killed a civilian on Tuesday and wounded two others after a bus refused to slow down in a volatile area despite their orders, the French army command said.
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Mar- 2020 -16 MarchAfrica
Sweden’s government proposes to send 150 troops and helicopters to Mali for Task Force Takuba
The Swedish government plans to send 150 special forces personnel and helicopters to join the new France-led Task Force Takuba in Mali
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10 MarchBlog
A French A400M airdropped 40 tonnes of supplies to troops in the Sahel
A French Airbus A400M transport aircraft airdropped almost 40 tonnes of supplies to troops operating in the troubled Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa
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Feb- 2020 -22 FebruaryAfrica
Joint Niger-Barkhane operation ‘neutralizes’ 120 terrorists, defense ministry says
A joint operation conducted by Nigerien and French forces "neutralized" 120 "terrorists" and seized bomb-making equipment in western Niger
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21 FebruaryAfrica
French actions ‘neutralize 50 terrorists’ near Mopti in central Mali
The France-led Operation Barkhane targeted ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliated fighters near Mopti in central Mali, 'neutralizing' around 50 militants
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