French President Macron Threatens To Pull Troops From Mali If ‘Radical Islamism’ Takes Hold

France 24: Macron threatens to pull troops from Mali if ‘radical Islamism’ takes hold

President Emmanuel Macron warned in comments published Sunday that France will pull its troops out of Mali if it lurches towards radical Islamism following the second coup in nine months.

France has around 5,100 troops in the region under its so-called Barkhane operation which spans five countries in the Sahel -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

The mission, headquartered in Chad, was launched after France intervened to fend off a jihadist advance in Mali in 2013.

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Update #1: Macron threatens to withdraw French troops from Mali (BBC)

Update #2: Macron warns of Mali withdrawal as coup leader summoned to Ecowas summit (RFI)

WNU Editor: Mali's coup leader is heading to Ghana for emergency talks .... Mali coup leader heads to Ghana for ECOWAS crisis talks (Al Jazeera).