FRANCE BEGINS MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM MALI; HANDOVER MENAKA BASE TO MALIAN FORCES

Tue 14 June 2022:

The handover of the Menaka base to Malian forces marked the start of France’s soldier withdrawal from Mali, according to the general command of defense.

“The transfer was conducted in an orderly, safe and transparent manner. Focus on this important element of Barkhane operation which provided security in the Three Borders and Southern Liptako region,” “On Twitter, the general staff stated.

According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, the transfer is part of President Emmanuel Macron’s February framework for reorganizing the Barkhane Force outside of Mali.

The French mainland in Mali officially handed over its Ménaka military base to local forces before leaving the country.#Mali #France pic.twitter.com/BlL3RiePnL

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) June 14, 2022

Operation Barkhane, which began in 2014 to combat terrorism in the G5 countries of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania, had deployed an estimated 4,600 soldiers.

The French forces have now relocated the military logistics from Menaka to 1,340 kilometers (833 miles) away to the Projected Air Base (BAP) of Niamey in Niger, where it will continue anti-terrorism operations in the Sahel region.

The French army said it has invested several million euros in development projects for vital infrastructure, education, youth and health of the local population which supported the Barkhane Force to undertake the operations.

The Malian army accused France of hiding a “mass grave” on the premises after French forces handed over a military installation in Gossi in April. The charges were disputed by France.

MALI ACCUSES FRANCE OF ‘SPYING’ AFTER MASS GRAVE FOOTAGE

FRANCE ACCUSES RUSSIAN MERCENARIES OF STAGING A MASSACRE IN MALI

Mali’s military administration invalidated the defense cooperation treaty agreement governing the status of French personnel (SOFA) in May, citing unfriendly ties with France, and ordered French troops as well as European forces under Takuba to leave the country.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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