France withdraws all its troops from Mali
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French troops participating in the operation “Dune” in Mali, withdrawn from the territory of the country, informs press service of the Elysee Palace. Despite this, the French authorities said they remain committed to fighting terrorism in the Sahel, the Gulf of Guinea and the Lake Chad region.
“From this morning, August 15, 2022, the redeployment process comes into force with the departure of the last French soldier from Operation Barkhane from Mali,” the message says.
The statement said that France will continue the fight against terrorism in full coordination with European and American partners, supporting the political, civil and military efforts of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) and the states of the region.
On February 17, France, its European allies and Canada officially announced on the complete withdrawal from Mali of the forces involved in the counter-terrorist operations “Barkhan” and “Takuba”. This was done after the Malian transitional military government failed to comply with demands for new presidential and parliamentary elections. In addition, as French President Emmanuel Macron said, the Russian PMC Wagner operates in the country and there are anti-French sentiments.
August 10 Russian President Vladimir Putin spent a telephone conversation with the president of the transitional period of Mali, Assimi Goita, during which the parties discussed, among other things, the supply of Russian food, fertilizers and fuel. During the conversation, which took place at the initiative of the Malian side, Putin and Goita also expressed satisfaction with the level of Russian-Malian cooperation in the foreign policy sphere, including the coordination of positions through the UN.
Russia the day before handed over Mali L-39 and Su-25 fighters and Mi-24P and Mi-8 combat helicopters, as well as CASA C-295 tactical transport aircraft during a ceremony in the country’s capital, Bamako.
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