This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
EU Special Ops to Deploy in Mali ¶
On July 12, 2020, French Minister Florence Parly announced the deployment of a European Union special operations force in Mali, dubbed Takuba. The initial contingent will consist of around 100 French and Estonian troops.
Parly stated that a second group of approximately 60 Czech soldiers will join the mission in October, followed by around 150 Swedish troops in January 2021. Italy has also expressed interest in joining the operation, according to Parly.
The Sahel region has seen a surge in brazen attacks by Islamist groups, despite the presence of 5,100 French anti-terrorism troops and the strengthening of national armies. The United Nations reported that at least 4,000 people were killed in the region in 2019 due to jihadist and inter-ethnic violence.
Parly noted that as jihadist forces weaken, they have increasingly resorted to recruiting minors. She warned that despite precautions, some child soldiers may be wounded or killed during fighting.
