France to reconfigure military presence in Sahel within weeks: Macron

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum and French President Emmanuel Macron deliver a speech during a news conference following a video summit with leaders of G5 Sahel countries, at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris. Stephane de Sakutin/Pool via REUTERS

France will in the weeks ahead begin reconfiguring its military presence in the Sahel region of West Africa where it has been on the frontline of the fight against militants, President Emmanuel Macron said. Macron announced a month ago that France was ending its Barkhane mission and would operate within a broader international alliance. Speaking after a virtual summit with leaders of the Sahel region, Macron on Friday said this was made possible by past successes against the militants as well as the changing nature of the threat.