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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Feb- 2020 -19 FebruaryAfrica
Mali: French actions near Hombori ‘neutralize several terrorist fighters’
A series of actions near Hombori in Mali conducted by the France-led Operation Barkhane 'neutralized' insurgents and destroyed important logistical assets
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8 FebruaryAfrica
French operations in Mali put 30 militants ‘out of action,’ as Barkhane builds Sahel Coalition coordination
French military operations against Islamic State and al-Qaeda groups in Mali put 30 militants "out of action" as Barkhane builds Sahel Coalition mechanisms
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6 FebruaryAfrica
Sweden plans contribution to France-led Task Force Takuba in Mali
The Swedish Armed Forces is planning for a possible deployment including helicopters to the France-led special operations Task Force Takuba in Mali
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3 FebruaryAfrica
Mali to launch major new military Operation Maliko to counter terrorism and assert state authority
Mali is to launch a new military operation in seven troubled regions in the east and center to counter terrorist threats and assert state authority
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2 FebruaryAfrica
France boosts Barkhane force to 5,100 troops to further focus on Mali-Burkina Faso-Niger tri-border area
France is to boost the number of troops deployed to its Operation Barkhane counter-terrorism mission in the Sahel to 5,100
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Jan- 2020 -31 JanuaryAfrica
Africa offers US a ‘competitive edge’ over Russia and China, Townsend says
US AFRICOM commander Stephen Townsend said the US military presence in Africa should remain as part of the strategy to counter Russia and China
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28 JanuaryAfrica
Czech Republic plans to send 60 troops to France-led Barkhane mission in the Sahel
The Czech Republic government approved a plan to send 60 troops to the France-led Operation Barkhane counter-terrorism mission in Africa's Sahel region
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28 JanuaryAfrica
Esper: Europe should ‘offset’ changes in US support for France’s West Africa mission
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Europe could 'offset any changes' in future support for France's counter-terror mission in Africa's Sahel region
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24 JanuaryAfrica
Barkhane operations kill more than 30 ‘terrorists’ in Mali
More than 30 "terrorists" were killed during a series of one-off operations conducted by the France-led Operation Barkhane force in Mali
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22 JanuaryAfrica
Sahel: France to further strengthen Barkhane, Takuba ‘fully operational by autumn’
France will further bolster its Operation Barkhane force in the Sahel, and the new Task Force Takuba will deploy in the summer, Lecointre says
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