French defence ministry to send 600 more troops to Africa’s Sahel

French soldiers of the “Belleface” Desert Tactical Group (GTD) set up camp for the night in the Gourma region during the Operation Barkhane in Ndaki, Mali, on July 27, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

France will deploy 600 more soldiers in the fight against Islamists militants in Africa’s Sahel, south of the Sahara, French Defence Minister Florence Parly said on Sunday.

The reinforcements would mostly be sent to the area between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Parly said in a statement. Another part would join the G5 Sahel forces.

France has about 4,500 troops already operating in the region.