French troop-reduction plan worries Mali
Hollande’s claim of situation being “well in hand” sits uncomfortably with the reality of a still struggling country.
After some military success in Mali, French President Francois Hollande has said he will greatly reduce the number of troops in the country.
French troops arrived in the West African nation almost a year ago to drive fighters out of their northern strongholds and restore order following a coup led by al-Qaeda backed fighters and Tuareg tribesmen battling for independence.
Hollande has declared that the situation is “well in hand”, but as Al Jazeera’s Andy Gallacher explains, Mali is still struggling through its worst crisis in years.
Before the troubles began, Mali was one of Africa’s fastest growing economies and a stable democracy but its recovery remains fragile. And there have been reports that fighters are regrouping in the country’s north.