Foreign Minister Le Drian announced that France will deploy 3,000 soldiers to the Sahel, while maintaining 1,000 in Mali, to combat Islamist militants. The additional troops will be based in Niamey, Niger’s capital, where French drones are based; in Burkina Faso; and in Chad; the logistics hub will be in Ivory Coast. He said the Sahel was key to both African and French security and vowed that France would stay with the mission “as long as it takes.” Le Drian also announced the death of another French soldier in Mali, who was killed by an IED. Since the launch of an “anti-jihad” hotline and website on April 29, authorities have received 24 “relevant” reports ; five involved individuals who already left France to fight in Syria.
