French soldiers from the new Takuba force are pictured during a briefing at their headquarters in Gao, Mali August 20, 2021. Picture taken August 20, 2021. REUTERS/Paul Lorgerie/File Photo

PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters) – The conditions are no longer in place to continue the fight against Islamist militants in Mali and President Emmanuel Macron has asked for the reorganization of French troops in the region, Foreign Minister Jean-Pierre said on Monday. Yves Le Drian. .

“If the conditions are no longer met for us to be able to act in Mali, which is clearly the case, then we will continue to fight terrorism next door with the countries of the Sahel, which,” Le Drian told France. 5.

France is considering withdrawing its troops from Mali, but adapting its strategy to prevent Islamist militancy from spreading south could prove complex and contribute to uncertainty in the region.

A French withdrawal would mean European special forces task force Takuba would also leave with diplomats saying the political, operational and legal conditions for remaining were becoming increasingly difficult.

Foreign ministers and senior Western diplomats held intensive talks on their countries’ future presence fighting Islamist militants in Mali on Monday after three weeks of consultations amid deteriorating relations between Mali and France, the main foreign military power in the Sahel region.

Two European diplomatic sources and one African said regional and international leaders would meet for dinner in Paris on Wednesday to hold talks with President Macron ahead of an EU-Africa summit on Thursday. The French presidency did not respond to requests for comment.

“The president wants us to reorganize. We are not going there, but we will reorganize to ensure the continuation of the fight against terrorism,” Le Drian said.

Three diplomatic sources said the announcement of a withdrawal from Mali would be made this week.

A draft document seen by Reuters, distributed to countries involved in Mali and which has not yet been approved, indicates that France and its Takuba partners had agreed to coordinate the withdrawal of their military resources from Malian territory.

It is unclear what will happen to the troops withdrawing from Mali. France has already reduced its troops in the Sahel with the aim of reducing the number of troops from around 5,000 to 2,500-3,000 by 2023. About half of its forces are based in Mali, so Paris should decide where to place them. and maintain operational efficiency.

The Takuba mission has approximately 600 to 900 men, 40% of whom are French, and includes medical and logistical teams. Rather, it was a symbolic force accompanying the local troops.

Few diplomats think it can survive a withdrawal from Mali, but Paris is hoping to convince its allies to back the Gulf of Guinea countries, including Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and Ghana, where fears that militancy will spread due to porous borders.

Reporting by John Irish Editing by Chris Reese and Alistair Bell

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