The President of France, Emmanuel Macron standing alongside The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, and the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo has announced the withdrawal of French troops in Mali following a meeting between African leaders and European leaders in Brussels, Belgium.
The ruling military junta in Mali has been calling for the withdrawal of French troops and their allies from the country.
Macron made this known at a press conference on Thursday, adding, “We cannot remain militarily committed with authorities to which we do not share same priorities.
“Due to multiple obstructions by the Malian transitional authorities, Canada and the European States operating alongside Operation Barkhane and within the Task Force Takuba deem that the political, operational and legal conditions are no longer met to effectively continue their current military engagement in the fight against terrorism in Mali.
“The allies, therefore, decided to commence the coordinated withdrawal of their respective military resources dedicated to these operations from Malian territory.”
France, Canada, and some European countries have been involved in anti-jihadists operations in Mali since 2013.
Macron stated that the Niger Republic has agreed to host European forces fighting Islamist militants in the Sahel region.
He also said that the remaining forces would provide assistance to countries in the Gulf of Guinea because they are “increasingly exposed to efforts by terrorist groups to implant themselves in their territory.”
The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo in his remarks said, “Africa cannot let terrorists stay in Africa, after being chased from the Middle East and Afghanistan.”