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February 17, 2021

Chad Sending Troops to Sahel, France Will Maintain Military Presence, as Conflict Claims More Lives
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French President Emmanuel Macron joined the heads of state of Burkina
Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger this week via video link for a
summit on the mounting crisis in the Sahel. France said it is seeking to
avoid an "infinite war" but did not have immediate plans to draw down
its 5,100 troops in the West African region. Meanwhile, Chad says it
plans to deploy 1,200 troops to combat armed groups associated with the
Islamic State and al-Qaeda. According to one tally, 7,000 people were
killed due to the Sahel conflict last year, while the U.N. warned over 2
million had been displaced.


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