A few days or weeks before the vote in the Nigerien Assembly on the military cooperation agreement between the Nigerien army and Barkhane, the French army is preparing. Since March 1, Colonel Hervé Pierre, the new commander who will coordinate Barkhane’s withdrawal from Mali, has settled in Niamey.
With our correspondent in Niamey, Moussa Kaka
For its future deployment in Niger, the partnership command is setting up its headquarters in Niamey surrounded by its staff. Colonel Hervé Pierre, having participated in operations Licorne, Serval and Sangaris, tells us about the withdrawal from Mali: “ It’s a logistical and operational maneuver, of course. And it is a maneuver, obviously, extremely complex “.
While preparing, the air assets of Barkhane continue to carry out reconnaissance. Strikes even took place 48 hours ago: “ About fifteen GAT [Groupes armés terroristes ndlr] have been neutralizedaccording to the senior officer. So finally, we have men who are engaged within the framework of the Almahaou alongside the Nigerien armed forces and who fight every day. »
Barchan | Yesterday, near the Malo-Nigerian border, identification of an armed terrorist group belonging to the EIGS traveling on a motorbike towards Ménaka. 15 terrorists neutralized by an airstrike. Another attack avoided. The fight goes on. pic.twitter.com/7GUzBwEr4F
– French Army – Military Operations (@EtatMajorFR) March 25, 2022
Hunt down jihadists in border regions
Barkhane expects a positive vote from deputies in favor of the military cooperation agreement which will be submitted to their assessment. “ Once a decision is made, we will enter into a close dialogue with the Nigerian general staff to know exactly how to describe it. »
Once their presence has been accepted by the Nigeriens, the French soldiers will settle in the border regions to fight the GAT. “ The border regions are regions conducive to GATs for refueling, for hiding, for settling and so this is where you will have to go and get them, of course. », agrees the colonel. Barkhane will then be a stone’s throw from the Malian border.
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