There’s no suggestion of  France’s operation Burkhane being terminated.

But Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian says it cannot last an eternity.

French troops intervened Mali six years ago to drive out Al Qaeda forces that had seized control of half the country.

There are still 4 500 French troops there. 

France also provides military basic against Islamist militants in Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Mauritania. The so-called G5

Foreign Minister Jean Yves le Drian tells the parliamentary foreign affairs committee in Paris that countries of Sahel should not stay in the comfort zone of thinking that Burkhane is forever behind them.

African security in the longer term will have to be secured by African nations themselves.

The post France warns West Africa not to take military support for granted appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.