Hollande says no French troops in Mali offensive
President François Hollande said on Thursday that he would not commit French combat troops to future military operations against Islamic militants in northern Mali, but would help with logistical support and training, a day before he embarked on his first official tour of Africain an interview with France 24.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Hollande-says-n...
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“We can’t intervene in the place of Africans, but we can offer logistical help, we can train, but France will not intervene” he affirmed.He said that it was up to the Malian government, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the African Union to organise and man a military response to Mali’s Islamist rebels,France 24 reported.
However he refused to countenance negotiations with terrorist groups.“Negotiate with whom? (…) With terrorists who impose sharia, cut off people’s hands and destroy monuments that were until now considered world heritage sites?”
“We must cut off that road to terrorists,” Hollande said, adding that European funding to combating food and health shortages in the Sahel were also important initiatives to combat terrorism.
On France's new approach to Africa and African leaders he said that France did not want to be a referee of judge but it did want to tell African leaders the truth.
However he refused to countenance negotiations with terrorist groups.“Negotiate with whom? (…) With terrorists who impose sharia, cut off people’s hands and destroy monuments that were until now considered world heritage sites?”
“We must cut off that road to terrorists,” Hollande said, adding that European funding to combating food and health shortages in the Sahel were also important initiatives to combat terrorism.
On France's new approach to Africa and African leaders he said that France did not want to be a referee of judge but it did want to tell African leaders the truth.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Hollande-says-n...