French President Macron expected to announce Mali withdrawal
French soldiers of Operation Barkhane, an anti-terrorist operation in the Sahel, patrol in armoured vehicle in Gao, northern Mali, on May 30, 2015. PHOTO | PHILIPPE DESMAZES | AFP
Agence France-Presse is an international news agency headquartered in Paris, France.
What you need to know:
The expected pullout amounts to a major strategic shift by France, spurred by a breakdown in its relations with Mali, a former colony and traditional ally, after two military coups.
Sources familiar with negotiations said there had been disagreement among Europeans as well as with the British and Americans about a wider departure, including over the risks of leaving Mali open to Russian influence.
