France | The Unwinnable War in the Sahel

For the best part of a decade, France has attempted to tackle Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel, a semi-arid region of Africa lying in an arc below the Sahara. Centred on Mali, the mission - Operation Barkhane - has now grown to include counter-terrorism operations in Burkina Faso and Niger. However, the French campaign is now in serious difficulties. As well as failing to rein in Islamist groups, Paris is now increasingly at odds with the Malian Government and facing growing public hostility. This has led many to ask whether France is now facing its own Afghanistan. Waging a seemingly unwinnable war, it can’t stay - but nor can it leave.

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Since ending its colonial rule in Africa in 1960, France has maintained close economic, political and military links with many of the countries of Africa. Indeed, it has intervened well over 60 times in the region since then (more likely far more). However, its most significant mission has been in the Sahel, where it has been playing a leading role alongside the armed forces of the other countries of the regions (G5) in taking on various Islamist insurgent groups. However, since taking the lead on the mission in Mali, in 2013, it has faced growing difficulties. With the death toll now believed to be well over 10,000, and almost 4 million now believed to be in dire need of humanitarian assistance, relations with Mali have collapsed following two military coups own the country. Meanwhile, efforts to establish a wider European force, Task Force Takuba, are also running into difficulties. This now calls into question whether the mission has failed, and, if so, what France can now do about the situation.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Introductions and Titles
0:22 The War on Terror in the Sahel
1:25 The Sahel Region
2:04 The Sahel: Islam and French Colonisation
3:04 Tackling Islamist Extremism in the Sahel
4:53 Operation Barkhane: Counter-Insurgency in the Sahel
5:55 Task Force Takuba and Mounting Problems
9:25 France in the Sahel: Can’t Stay, Can’t Leave
11:48 France’s Unwinnable War in the Sahel?

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FURTHER READING & USEFUL SOURCES

French Ministry of the Armed Forces [LINK]
Ministère des Armées YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Y9vEv67BYRhgbRwJGj35w
France Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/
MINUSMA https://minusma.unmissions.org/en
French Military Operations Since 1960 https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/pdf/rap-info/i2777.pdf
LINK [LINK]

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KEYWORDS

#France #Sahel #Mali
#InternationalPolitics #CurrentAffairs #InternationalRelations
#Insurgency #Statehood #Independence #Francafrique
#InternationalLaw #InternationalHistory

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