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09h41 : European soldiers from the Takuba force will be “repositioned” in Niger in an area on the border with Mali, announces Emmanuel Macron.
09h39 : “We cannot remain militarily engaged alongside de facto authorities whose strategy or hidden objectives we share neither. This is the situation we are facing today in Mali.”
Judging that “the fight against terrorism cannot justify everything”the Head of State accuses the Malian authorities of using this pretext for a “indefinite retention of power”.
(FRANCEINFO)
09h32 : The departure of the Barkhane and Takuba forces from Mali will allow, according to the Head of State, to “refocus, at the request of our partners, where our contribution is expected”. The new system in each country of the region will be defined “in the coming weeks and months”.
09h30 : In agreement with its partners, France also intends “put civilian populations more at the heart of our strategy to fight against terrorist groups”. Emmanuel Macron calls for a “civil outburst” to do “rampart” to jihadist organizations, a condition according to him for military action “effective”.
09h24 : “The States of the Gulf of Guinea are increasingly exposed to attempts by terrorist groups to establish themselves on their territory.”
The Head of State says he wants “involve and support more neighboring countries” of Mali, increasingly threatened by Al-Qaeda and Daesh, which make it “a priority of their expansion strategy”. He recalls that an attack took place recently in the north of Benin, causing in particular the death of a Frenchman working for a natural park.
09h20 : Emmanuel Macron salutes the “courageous decision by President François Hollande to intervene in Mali”in 2013, “at the request of the Malian and regional authorities”. He recalls the “unifying role” played by France since then in military action in the region.
09h17 : The day after a meeting with his Western and African partners involved in the Sahel, Emmanuel Macron speaks at a press conference about the withdrawal of Barkhane and Takuba forces from Mali. You can follow his talk here.
09h10 : Time for a new point on the news:
• France and its Western partners have announced a “coordinated withdrawal from Malian territory” Barkhane and Takuba forces. Emmanuel Macron must comment on this departure in the coming minutes, in a press conference to follow in our live.
• Has Russia withdrawn troops to the border? “We now know that this is false”said a senior White House official, accusing Moscow of having increased his presence“ military “the last days”including yesterday.
• He ended up taking the plunge. MEP Nicolas Bay, freshly suspended by the National Rally, announced his support for Eric Zemmour. He accuses Marine Le Pen of “multiple twists and turns” and his “refusal of any form of internal debate”.
• On the eve of the verdict in the trial of Nordahl Lelandais, place today for the indictment and the defense pleadings. The 38-year-old former dog handler faces life imprisonment, in particular for the kidnapping and murder of Maëlys De Araujo in 2017.
09h05 : What will the French commitment to the Sahel look like after the departure of troops from Mali? According to the Elysée, Western countries involved in the region have started “political and military consultations” with their African partners to “defining the parameters of this joint action by June 2022”.
09h01 : During a meeting between African and European leaders, members of operations Barkhane and Takuba “expressed their desire to remain engaged in the region“, despite their withdrawal from Mali. They “have agreed to continue their joint action against terrorism (…) in particular in Niger and in the Gulf of Guinea”.
08h57 : A few minutes before a press conference by Emmanuel Macron on the subject, France confirms its departure from Mali. “Canada and the European states operating alongside Operation Barkhane and within the Takuba task force believe that the political, operational and legal conditions are no longer met to effectively pursue their current military commitment to the fight against terrorism in Mali.”
08:55 : The Elysée announces a “coordinated withdrawal” of French, European and Canadian forces deployeded in Mali.
06h09 : Under your acclamations, here are the first titles of this Thursday, February 17:
• Will France and its European partners withdraw their troops from Mali? Emmanuel Macron must announce, at 9 a.m., at a press conference, decisions on the future of the Barkhane mission, recorded last night at a summit of European and African leaders.
• Has Russia withdrawn troops to the border? “We now know that this is false”said a senior White House official, accusing Moscow of having, on the contrary, increased his presence“ military “the last days”including yesterday.
• He ended up taking the plunge. MEP Nicolas Bay, freshly suspended by the National Rally, announced his support for Eric Zemmour. He accuses Marine Le Pen of “multiple twists and turns” and his “refusal of any form of internal debate”.
• On the eve of the verdict in the trial of Nordahl Lelandais, place today for the indictment and the defense pleadings. The 38-year-old former dog handler faces life imprisonment, in particular for the kidnapping and murder of Maëlys De Araujo in 2017.