Chad Withdraws 600 Soldiers From Tri-Border Zone In Sahel
Chadian authorities have reduced their military contingent deployed in the restive border area of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Chadian authorities on Saturday, Aug. 21, announced the withdrawal and redeployment of 600 soldiers from the volatile tri-border area of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Radio France Internationale reported that the contingent arrived Thursday evening in Chadian territory after a departure that was coordinated with G5 Sahel partners and the French government.
Chadian security sources informed the outlet that the contingent comprised 600 soldiers representing half of the force deployed last Feb. in the tri-border zone.
It added that the soldiers are deployed in northern Chad which faces several security challenges.
Abderaman Koulamallah, security spokesperson told the AFP news agency on Saturday that “This is a strategic redeployment to better adapt to the organisation of the terrorists.”
He added that “Regarding the situation on the ground, we need a mobile force, hence the withdrawal of some of our forces with heavy weapons.”
Chad had a contingent of 1,200 Chadian soldiers deployed as part of Sahel’s G5 force fighting Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliate groups in the Sahel.
The G5 Sahel headquartered in Nouakchott is a United Nations-backed intergovernmental cooperation framework created in 2014, comprising Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger Republic.
In 2017, G5 Sahel leaders officially launched the cross-border and joint counter-terrorism force in Bamako, pooling resources to fight security threats in the Sahel region.
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