The newly elected French President, Emmanuel Macron, visited this Friday, May 19, the French forces of Operation Barkhane in Gao in northern Mali. He was welcomed by his Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta at the Gao military base. The French President, during a joint press briefing, reaffirmed France’s engagement in Mali.
« This trip is the direct result of a commitment I made during the presidential campaign. That of going immediately after my election, beside the French forces deployed on the ground and engaged in the fight against terrorism. As Chief of the Armed Forces, I have come here today to pay tribute to them and to show my confidence and determination beside those who are fighting for our security, that of Mali, for that of the Sahel and that of France », Macron said.
The latter also expressed its willingness to accelerate the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement resulting from the Algiers process. An agreement signed two years ago between the Malian government and the armed groups of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and the Platform.
« My wish is to build our action in full respect of the Algiers agreements, their full, prompt and coherent respect », he continued.
« Here in Mali, we are at the task, the agreements have been signed. A National Peace Conference was held, which we consider to be a moving train and which is moving forward and which must continue to progress. Our disarray stems from the fact that the road is long, that it is often sown with pitfall with sometimes a multitude of bad will », said the Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
The French forces have been deployed since January 2013 in Mali to stop the terrorist advancement towards the south of the country. Operation Serval was replaced in August 2014 by that of Barkhane, whose forces are destined to fight terrorists in the Sahel.
Abdoulaye Gozane Diarra Augustin K. Fodou
Translated by Mahaitou Ibrahim Maiga