PARIS: The French government said Monday (Tuesday in Manila) its forces had killed more than 50 jihadists aligned to Al-Qaeda in air strikes in central Mali. “On October 30 in Mali, the Barkhane force conducted an operation that neutralized more than 50 jihadists and confiscated arms and material,” Parly said, referring to the French-led anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane. The results of the operation, launched about a month ago, would be announced in the coming days, he said. The United Nations has some 13,000 troops deployed in Mali as part of its peacekeeping mission, known as Minusma, while France has 5,100 deployed in the Sahel region. Mali’s new interim government, which was appointed to rule for 18 months before staging elections, appears willing to engage in dialogue.

Source: Manila Times November 02, 2020 21:33 UTC