Operation Barkhane
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Operation Barkhane is an ongoing anti-insurgent operation in Africa's Sahel region, which commenced 1 August 2014.[1] It consists of a 3,000-strong French force, which will be permanent and headquartered in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad.[2] The operation has been designed with five countries, and former French colonies, that span the Sahel: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.[2] These countries are collectively referred to as the "G5 Sahel."[3]
The operation is named after a crescent-shaped dune in the Sahara desert.[4]
Contents
Background
The operation is the successor of Operation Serval, the French military mission in Mali,[4] and Operation Epervier, the mission in Chad.[5]
Aim
The operation is "to become the French pillar of counterterrorism in the Sahel region."[3] According to French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the main objective of Operation Barkhane is counter-terrorism:[1] "The aim is to prevent what I call the highway of all forms of traffics to become a place of permanent passage, where jihadist groups between Libya and the Atlantic Ocean can rebuild themselves, which would lead to serious consequences for our security."[6] French President, François Hollande, has said the Barkhane force will allow for a "rapid and efficient intervention in the event of a crisis" in the region.[4]
The operation will target Islamist extremists in Mali, Chad and Niger,[1] and will have a mandate to operate across borders.[1]
Forces committed
French Forces
The French force is a 3,000-strong counter-terrorism force,[2] with 1,000 soldiers to be deployed indefinitely in Mali. These soldiers will be focused on counter-terrorism operations in northern Mali, with another 1,200 soldiers stationed in Chad, and the remaining soldiers split between a surveillance base in Niger, a bigger permanent base in Ivory Coast, and some special forces in Burkina Faso.[2]
According to original plans, the French forces will be supplied with 20 helicopters, 200 armored vehicles, 10 transport aircraft, 6 fighter planes, and 3 drones.[2] French Army Aviation currently have two Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma's in Chad.[7]
The division of labor between France and the G5 Sahel has been established by four permanent military bases:[3] (1) headquarters and an air force base in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena (under the leadership of French Général Palasset); (2) a regional base in Gao, north Mali, with at least 1,000 men; (3) a special-forces base in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou; (4) an intelligence base in Niger’s capital, Niamey, with over 300 men.
The Niamey air base is strategically important because it hosts drones in charge of gathering intelligence across the entire Sahel-Saharan region.[3]
British support
In March 2016, during the UK-France Summit in Paris, the British government announced that it would consider providing support to Operation Barkhane.[8] British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon then announced that the UK would provide monthly strategic airlift support to French forces in Africa.[9]
Operations
Operations commenced 1 August 2014. French Forces sustained their first casualty during a battle in early November 2014, which also resulted in 24 jihadists dead.[10]
On 12 April 2016, three French soldiers were killed when their armored personnel carrier struck a land mine. The convoy of about 60 vehicles was travelling to the northern desert town of Tessalit when it hit the mine.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 France sets up anti-Islamist force in Africa's Sahel, bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://nationalinterest.org/feature/welcome-frances-new-war-terror-africa-operation-barkhane-11029
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Hollande announces new military operation in West Africa, france24.com.
- ↑ Opération Barkhane, French Ministry of Defense.
- ↑ France Launches New Sahel Counter-Terrorism Operation Barkhane, ibtimes.co.uk.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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