European Takuba taskforce in Mali has no future - Russian deputy FM

MOSCOW. Feb 14 (Interfax) - Tensions are growing in Mali, and the European Takuba taskforce has no future, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said.

"Tensions are growing, in particular, in Mali. France is wrapping up Operation Barkhane and is evacuating servicemen from three bases, while the European Takuba taskforce has no future and is breaking down," Syromolotov said at a Federation Council roundtable.

Hence, the Mali authorities are left to deal with the militants on their own, he said.

Back on January 31, the Mali government decided to expel the French ambassador over the "hostile" comments of French officials toward the Mali authorities. The latest outbreak of tensions between France and Mali was caused by the expulsion of a Danish contingent led by the French command of the Takuba international antiterrorism taskforce over the allegedly illegal presence in Mali and the respective reaction of France.

Operation Barkhane is a French army operation in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad (G5 Sahel group) against Islamic terrorist groups. It continues Operation Serval launched by the French army in Mali in 2013. The operation was renamed Barkhane in July 2014 and spread into Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad besides Mali.