French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that “withdrawing French troops deployed in the Sahel region of northern Africa would be a mistake.” He argued that withdrawal “in the fight against terrorist groups in the region could have repercussions for the wider continent and Europe”; first as a humanitarian disaster, and also as the occasion for a new wave of refugees, with jihadists again infiltrating the refugee stream. Western countries, however, are under no obligation to take in unvetted multitudes of migrants from war zones created by jihadists.
French troops killed Abdelmalek Droukdel in June. Droukdel was a leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and he played a critical role in the global jihad. His mission extended beyond AQIM; he was a highly influential leader in the global expansion of the Sharia.
“France rules out troop withdrawal from Sahel to ‘cut off the head’ of terror groups,” by Alice Tidey, Euronews, February 16, 2021:
French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Tuesday that withdrawing French troops deployed in the Sahel region of northern Africa would be a mistake, arguing a slip up in the fight against terrorist groups in the region could have repercussions for the wider continent and Europe.
“I believe that to precipitate a French withdrawal (…) would be a mistake,” Macron told reporters following a two-day summit with the leaders of Sahel countries Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Chad.
“I consider that the year 2020 has borne fruits, has allowed the victories that we expected,” he said, also citing the “significant re-commitment of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger” in the fight against terrorist groups.
France increased its troops in the Sahel by 600 last year following a similar summit in Pau, bringing the total number of French soldiers deployed there as part of Operation Barkhane to 5,100.
The military operation was launched in 2014 but has come under pressure over the past two years due to local resentment at the French presence and the rising death toll for French troops — 27 French soldiers lost their lives in 2019 and 2020, nearly half the total since the beginning of the operation.
Macron said the increase of French boots on the ground has led to significant victories including the deaths of Abdelmalek Droukel, then-leader of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and Bah ag Moussa, a military chief in the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM).
“We are there because we have a shared destiny with the Sahel. If the Sahel falls into the hands of terrorism, Africa will gradually fall into the hands of Islamic terrorists and Europe will live the consequences of this tragedy very clearly. So I think it is our duty to be by your side,” Macron, who attended the summit virtually, said….
He said that challenge going forward is to build on these victories and go “further and stronger” in order to “try to cut off the head” of al-Qaida-linked groups.
“We must not release pressure on terrorist groups,” he went on….
JohnTheRevelator says
He talks very bravely about wiping out Jihadists in far off lands but doesn’t seem to realize millions of jihadists are occupying his own country. This is what Leftists do, they virtue signal and grandstand about fighting evil in other nations, but they are either blind or DGAF about the evil right under their noses. This just shows they’re posturing and are not taking the threat seriously.
Every single life taken by Muslims was entirely avoidable and completely unnecessary. When Muslims start to kill your public school teachers for the ‘crime’ of speaking about Islam honestly then you have a massive problem you need to address in your country. First clean up France Macron before you talk about saving Africa from Islam.
Also the West still hasn’t figured out that conflict with Muslims isn’t a law-enforcement issue, but rather ideological, which means we are in a state of war against Islam and this falls under the purview of the military. Muslims seek to destroy freedom/democracy and replace it with an Islamic gov’t, this is sedition and must be dealt with accordingly.
James Lincoln says
+1
gravenimage says
Grimly true, John.
Christopher Watson says
Or for censuring Marine Le Pen for simply for showing photographs of moslem atrocities.
Savvy Kafir says
In a sane world, not one single Muslim would be allowed to enter (or remain in) any free, civilized country, regardless of circumstances. In that scenario, there would be no good reason to keep soldiers from Western nations in any Muslim-majority countries.
jca reid says
Macron trying to deflect from the Islamic problem in Metropolitan France. hopefully the French People will see through his charade as President & boot him out of Office, real soon!
Crusades Were Right says
Only ONE good reason – as far as I can see – for Western countries to have troops in Mohammedan dominated lands: to protect non-Mohammedans from Mohammedans.
Infidel says
So while France itself is getting overrun by Muslims, they think it’s useful to have troops in countries like Mali, Chad, Niger and Mauritania! The textbook definition of globalism!
Marine Le Pen or Gérald Darmanin – either one of them should resolve to pull out all those troops, and send in their place all muslims who’re currently squatting in France
Savvy Kafir says
Agreed! Muslims should be confined to Muslim-majority countries, and we should keep our people OUT of them.
James Lincoln says
Savvy Kafir,
100% true…
gravenimage says
The Muslim world was largely isolated for about 200 years–this is when the rest of the world was safest from Islam.
john smith says
Spot on Gravenimage, we were safe from them when they weren’t living amongst us.
Singh T. Junior says
One Billion Hindus are with you President Macron.
Infidel says
Sadly no! Half the Hindu population is still in denial about the venality of both islam and the Left
gravenimage says
France: Macron rules out troop withdrawal from Sahel, vows to ‘try to cut off the head’ of jihad groups
………………..
Given that most of the Sahel is Muslim, this sadly seems like a fool’s errand…
R Thomasson says
The Mouse who Roared https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKOftmWGGXk
Van Hee says
I’m glad macrons atleast trying when it comes to jihad terror. Hats off to him.
Proud Islamophobe says
So with one hand, he wants to cut off the heads of jihad terror, and with the other hand, he charges a woman with breaking the law because she’s opposed to jihad. Once again, Macron demonstrates his need for medication.