Macron: Operation Barkhane Will End in the "First Quarter of 2022"

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that the French military operation "Barkhane," aimed at combating jihadists in the Sahel region and currently involving over five thousand soldiers, will conclude in the "first quarter of 2022." In his annual speech to military personnel on the eve of the national holiday, Macron stated, "In the first quarter of 2022, we will put an end to Operation Barkhane," while emphasizing that the end of this operation, which has been ongoing since 2014, does not mean a withdrawal of France's role in the region. The French president noted the contribution of his forces in defeating jihadists in the Sahel region, asserting that "the French army and Operation Barkhane are what have prevented the establishment of a caliphate in the Sahel in recent years." Macron had previously announced on Friday, following a summit with leaders of the G5 Sahel countries, that France would begin withdrawing its troops stationed in northern Mali by the end of the year and refocus its efforts southwards, where jihadist groups continue to "spread the threat." He explained that the closure of Barkhane bases in northern Mali would start in "the second half of 2021," while military sites in Kidal, Tessalit, and Timbuktu would close "by the beginning of 2022."