France pledges 600 more troops for Sahel

France has announced it will send an additional 600 troops to West Africa’s Sahel region, bringing the total number of French forces in the territory to 5,100. 

The majority of the troops will be stationed at the borders between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso - areas where jihadist attacks have been particularly rampant. 

Conflict in the Sahel region initially broke out in 2012, when an alliance of separatists and Islamist militants took over northern Mali, triggering a French military intervention to oust them. A peace deal was signed in 2015 but never fully implemented, allowing armed groups to spread into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. 

Attacks by militants linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have increased significantly over the past year, causing more than half a million people to flee their homes. 

In a bid to combat the rising tide of militant Islam, last week the parliament in Burkina Faso unanimously voted to arm its citizens. Under the new laws, any national aged over 18 can be considered for recruitment, provided they do not belong to any political group and have a “spirit of sacrifice”. 

Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a summit with his West African counterparts to discuss the military campaign against jihadists. The leaders pleaded for the United States to continue its “crucial” logistical support in the region, which includes transport and drone capabilities. 

Photo: Getty Images