France to pull more than 2,000 troops from Africa's Sahel

French President Emmanuel Macron says his country will withdraw more than 2,000 troops from an anti-extremism force in Africa’s Sahel region starting in the coming months

PARIS -- France will withdraw more than 2,000 troops from an anti-extremism force in Africa’s Sahel region and pivot its military presence to specialized regional forces instead, President Emmanuel Macron said Friday. Macron announced last month a future reduction of France’s military presence, arguing it’s no longer adapted to the need in the area. The French Barkhane force, operating in Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, had also met opposition from some Africans. After discussions Friday with leaders of the African countries involved, Macron announced that France would reduce its force to 2,500 to 3,000 troops over the long term. The country currently has 5,000 troops in the region. “We will do it in stages,” Macron said, with the next six months focused on dismantling the Barkhane operation and reorganizing the troops.