Annual military meet follows West Africa coups

US troops have joined several hundred soldiers from 10 African countries for an annual military exercise in Ivory Coast.

The two-week exercise, known as Flintlock, is designed to strengthen co-ordination against Islamist militant groups in West Africa and the Sahel.

It opens just before French President Emmanuel Macron hosts a summit in Paris this week on the future of the French-led multinational force based in Mali.

Following the coups there and in neighbouring Burkina Faso - as well as the growing influence of the Russian mercenary force known as the Wagner Group - France and its European allies have said they are prepared to withdraw security assistance unless the military regimes pledge to restore democratic government.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: AFP