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BRITAIN-MALI-FRANCE-UNREST
Britain extends Mali mission by six months
LONDON, July 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Britain will extend its involvement in
France’s security mission in Mali and neighbouring countries by at least six
more months, until June 2020, the defence ministry said Tuesday.
Britain has been supporting French forces with three Chinook heavy-lift
helicopters and 100 security personnel since July 2018.
Since French troops helped force out jihadists in 2013, parts of northern
Mali remain out of control of security forces and violence has spread to
other areas of country.
“It is right that we extend our commitment to the counter-terror operation
in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger,” Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said in a
statement.
“By providing essential support to our French partners our Armed Forces
are helping to build stability and deny terrorists a haven from which to plan
attacks.”
Around 20 European nations have a military presence in the west African
region.
Some are involved in a UN peacekeeping force, known as MINUSMA.
France has deployed 4,500 troops in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad in
a mission codenamed Barkhane to help local forces roll back jihadists.
BSS/AFP/RY/1900 hrs