Anti-jihadist fight in Africa’s Sahel region

France is stepping up its military effort in the Sahel, pledging extra troops and calling on the United States to maintain its support, amid a surge in violence linked to Islamist militant groups


Violent incidents (2019)

Timbuktu
MAURITANIA
Nouakchott
Gossi
Bamako
BURKINA FASO
ALGERIA
Tessalit
Kidal
MALI
Gao
Ouagadougou
GULF OF GUINEA
Aguelal
Dirkou
NIGER
Agadez
Menaka
Niamey
NIGERIA
Tri-border area
LIBYA
Faya
CHAD
Abeche
N’Djamena

500km 300 miles

G5 Sahel countries

MQ-9 drone

 
Military bases: U.S.	France

Joint command: French and Sahelian counter-terrorism forces to be placed under one umbrella, named Coalition for the Sahel

Military effort: To focus on Burkina Faso-Mali-Niger tri-border area, with so-called Islamic State as priority target

Reinforcements: Additional 220 French troops to supplement 4,500 already in region. European, African and international forces invited to join coalition

G5 Sahel Joint Force: Role revised to allow estimated 5,000- strong contingent to operate outside of border zones

United Nations: MINUSMA mission in Mali – numbering over 13,000 troops – closely coordinates with French-led operation

United States: Provides logistical, intelligence and drone support to French forces, but Washington has signalled that it could pull out.
U.S. has about 800 troops in Niger 

Sources: Defence Post, Foreign Policy, French defence ministry, Reuters, Stratfor 
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