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France: US must step up support for operation against W. Africa militants

PARIS/WASHINGTON – The United States must step up its support for a planned African force to fight Islamist militants in West Africa or it could fail, leaving French troops to carry the burden alone, France's defense minister said on Friday.

 

France intervened in Mali to ward off an offensive by Islamist militants that began in 2012, and 4,000 of its troops remain in the region as part of Operation Barkhane where they work alongside 10,000 UN peacekeepers in Mali.

 

France and West African countries are pushing for the creation of a regional force known as the G5 Sahel.

 

Washington provides bilateral assistance, intelligence and training for regional security operations. But it is cool towards the African force and has pushed back against UN support for it.

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.21.17, 08:57