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FRANCE will not delay its troop withdrawal from Mali despite a resurgence in violence that saw two French journalists killed at the weekend, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said yesterday.
France, which sent soldiers to its former colony in January to combat militants who had taken over swathes of the country, has already pushed back by two months plans to reduce troop numbers to 1 000, from 3 200 by the end of the year.
Fabius, speaking on RFI radio, confirmed the French army had redeployed 150 soldiers from the south to Kidal, the Tuareg rebel stronghold in the north, where instability has grown in recent months.
“President (Hollande) immediately decided to strengthen our presence in Kidal, but that does not put into question the calendar and the reduction of French forces,” Fabius said.
Malian forces and UN peacekeeping troops would also be increased, he said.
France launched air strikes and sent thousands of soldiers into Mali in January to drive back al Qaeda-linked rebels it said could turn Mali into a base for militant attacks. Islamists scattered during the French assault and a presidential election was held in August that brought Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to power.
Legislative elections are due on November 24. Last month Malian and international forces launched a big operation to keep pressure on Islamist groups. — Rtr.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter