France transforms its counter-terrorism strategy after failing to contain violence in the Sahel region. Niger is now taking a more central role
Eight years after French soldiers arrived in the Sahel region to fight militant groups, France’s counter-terrorism approach is shifting. As a part of a new strategy, French President Emmanuel Macron announced last week that France will start closing its bases in northern Mali as part of a drawdown of French troops fighting militant groups in the Sahel region.
“Despite its [Operation Barkhane] successes, the threat posed by militant groups in the region has grown both in its reach and intensity. This suggests that a strategic change of tack is needed to address the current situation,” Eizenga told TRT World. French President Emmanuel Macron and Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum deliver a speech during a news conference at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris, France July 9, 2021
One reason, Eizenga says, is its capital Niamey offers a closer location to the tri-border area, the main area of intervention which France wants to focus on. “Niger appears to present a less problematic cooperation partner for the West. The newly elected Bazoum has already closely cooperated with Niger’s partners in his previous role as interior minister and presents significantly fewer challenges in cooperation than Mali and Chad,” Anna Schmauder, Sahel Researcher at Clingendael Institute told TRT World.
While large swatches of Mali are under the control of militant groups, the country has seen two military coups in less than a year. This May, General Assimi Goita imprisoned and then ousted the civilian president and prime minister of the transitional council, which was set up after the ouster of French-backed President Ibrahim Keita following mass protests last year.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Protests erupt in Lebanon as France announces aid conferenceAngry protests break out in Lebanon as premier-designate Saad Hariri fails to form new government and France prepares to host donor conference for the crisis-hit Arab country
Read more »
France celebrates Bastille Day amid virus fears, tensionsFrance is celebrating its national holiday Wednesday with thousands of troops marching in a Paris parade and traditional parties around the country.
Read more »
Cannes Review: Jacques Audiard’s ‘Paris, 13th District’The eclectic veteran French director Jacques Audiard shifts gears yet again (his last feature was 2018’s unusual western, The Sisters Brothers) with Paris, 13th District (Les Olympiades), an …
Read more »
Tom Hiddleston Breaks Down His Career, from 'The Avengers' to 'Loki'Tom Hiddleston takes us through his legendary career, including his roles in 'Nicholas Nickleby,' 'Thor,' 'War Horse,' 'The Avengers,' 'The Night Manager,' 'Betrayal' and 'Loki.'
Read more »
Splunk BrandVoice: State Of Security Research Zeroes In On Data StrategiesOvernight, the pandemic forced the rapid shift to remote work — and the exponentially faster shift to cloud technology that it helped drive.
Read more »
The Open: The Iceland delivery driver practising with Phil MickelsonNick Poppleton is on shift for Iceland next week, but first he's playing golf's oldest tournament.
Read more »