France is stepping up its military cooperation with Niger as it continues to fight Islamist insurgents in the Sahel following a breakdown in relations with Mali's military leaders. Colonel Hervé Pierre, the man in charge of coordinating France’s pivot from Mali to Niger, spoke to RFI about the “extremely complex” reorganisation.
More than 2,400 French soldiers stationed in Mali as part of Operation Barkhane are in retreat following Macron’s announcement in February that “multiple obstructions" by Mali had made it impossible for France to continue its mission there.
