OPERATION BARKHANE

MORE THAN 50 DJIHADISTS KILLED IN MALI

As revealed on Monday by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, who met in Bamako with the Malian transitional authorities, more than 50 jihadists were killed on October 30, 2020, during an operation led by the Barkhane force near the Burkinabe border.

Four jihadists were also taken prisoner and equipment and weapons were confiscated.

"This action, which is an action of opportunity, deals a significant blow to a terrorist group affiliated with Al Kaida, a katiba (fighting unit, editor's note) of Ansarul Islam, near the border with Burkina Faso", detailed the minister.

According to her, the French army spotted a large column of combatants on motorcycles, who “then grouped together and hid under the trees. Barkhane immediately started the operation ”.

This action is part of a campaign led by Operation Barkhane since the beginning of October in the so-called “three borders” area, between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

Composed of 5,100 men, the Barkhane force has been operating since 2014. Its objective is to enable the armed forces of the Sahel to face the jihadist threat.