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- 2019 -18 NovemberAfrica
At least 24 Mali soldiers, 17 ‘terrorists’ killed in Tabankort during joint operation with Niger
At least 24 soldiers were killed and 29 others injured in Tabankort in eastern Mali during a bilateral Mali-Niger military operation
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18 NovemberAfrica
French commando seriously injured in Mali counter-ISIS operation that killed 5 ‘terrorists’ near Indelimane
A French solider was seriously injured during a counter-Islamic State operation near Indelimane in Mali's Menaka region in which five 'terrorists' were killed
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18 NovemberAfrica
France and Sahel partner forces conduct ‘unprecedented’ operation in Burkina Faso and Mali
Forces from the France-led Operation Barkhane and its partner forces in the Sahel region carried out an 'unprecedented' 17-day counter-terror operation
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13 NovemberAfrica
Estonia special forces to join France-led Takuba mission in Mali, defense ministry says
Estonian special operations forces are set to join the new France-led Task Force Takuba in the Mali in the second half of 2020
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13 NovemberAfrica
UN says G5 Sahel needs more support to battle terrorism, as Macron signals force revamp
The G5 Sahel Joint Force faces persistent training and equipment shortfalls as violence spirals in the region, according to a new UN report
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8 NovemberAfrica
Estonia parliament approves Mali troop increase for Operation Barkhane
Estonia's parliament agreed to increase to 95 the country's troop deployment to the France-led Operation Barkhane counter-terrorism mission in the Sahel
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6 NovemberAfrica
France expects new international task force Takuba to deploy in Mali ‘by 2020’
France expects a new international special operations Task Force Takuba to deploy in Mali by 2020 to help train local troops, defense minister Florence Parly said
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6 NovemberAfrica
French troops in Mali kill ‘second most-wanted terrorist in the Sahel’
French troops in Mali last month killed Ali Maychou, a senior figure in the al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM)
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2 NovemberAfrica
French soldier killed in Mali roadside bomb blast claimed by ISIS
A French soldier deployed to Operation Barkhane was killed between Gao and Menaka in Mali in an IED attack later claimed by Islamic State
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Oct- 2019 -25 OctoberAfrica
Barkhane force ‘neutralizes’ 8 ISIS fighters during 9-day Mali operation
Commandos deployed to the France-led Operation Barkane counter-terrorism mission in the Sahel 'neutralized' eight Islamic State-affiliated fighters in Mali
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