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09:20 : Emmanuel Macron salutes the “courageous decision by President François Hollande to intervene in Mali”in 2013, “at the request of the Malian and regional authorities”. He recalls the “unifying role” played by France since then in military action in the region.
09:17 : The day after a meeting with his Western and African partners involved in the Sahel, Emmanuel Macron speaks at a press conference about the withdrawal of Barkhane and Takuba forces from Mali. You can follow his talk here.
09:10 : Time for a new point on the news:
• France and its Western partners have announced a “coordinated withdrawal from Malian territory” Barkhane and Takuba forces. Emmanuel Macron must comment on this departure in the coming minutes, in a press conference to follow in our live.
• Has Russia withdrawn troops to the border? “We now know that this is false”said a senior White House official, accusing Moscow of having increased his presence“ military “the last days”including yesterday.
• He ended up taking the plunge. MEP Nicolas Bay, freshly suspended by the National Rally, announced his support for Eric Zemmour. He accuses Marine Le Pen of “multiple reversals and retreats” and his “refusal of any form of internal debate”.
• On the eve of the verdict in the trial of Nordahl Lelandais, place today for the indictment and the defense pleadings. The 38-year-old former dog handler faces life imprisonment, in particular for the kidnapping and murder of Maëlys De Araujo in 2017.
09:05 : What will the French commitment to the Sahel look like after the departure of troops from Mali? According to the Elysée, Western countries involved in the region have started “political and military consultations” with their African partners to “defining the parameters of this joint action by June 2022”.
09:01 : During a meeting between African and European leaders, members of operations Barkhane and Takuba “expressed their desire to remain engaged in the region“, despite their withdrawal from Mali. They “have agreed to continue their joint action against terrorism (…) in particular in Niger and in the Gulf of Guinea”.
08:57 : A few minutes before a press conference by Emmanuel Macron on the subject, France confirms its departure from Mali. “Canada and the European states operating alongside Operation Barkhane and within the Takuba task force believe that the political, operational and legal conditions are no longer met to effectively pursue their current military commitment to the fight against terrorism in Mali.”
08:55 : The Elysée announces a “coordinated withdrawal” of French, European and Canadian forces deployeded in Mali.
06:09 : Under your acclamations, here are the first titles of this Thursday, February 17:
• Will France and its European partners withdraw their troops from Mali? Emmanuel Macron must announce, at 9 a.m., at a press conference, decisions on the future of the Barkhane mission, recorded last night at a summit of European and African leaders.
• Has Russia withdrawn troops to the border? “We now know that this is false”said a senior White House official, accusing Moscow of having, on the contrary, increased his presence“ military “the last days”including yesterday.
• He ended up taking the plunge. MEP Nicolas Bay, freshly suspended by the National Rally, announced his support for Eric Zemmour. He accuses Marine Le Pen of “multiple reversals and retreats” and his “refusal of any form of internal debate”.
• On the eve of the verdict in the trial of Nordahl Lelandais, place today for the indictment and the defense pleadings. The 38-year-old former dog handler faces life imprisonment, in particular for the kidnapping and murder of Maëlys De Araujo in 2017.