France Devising Its Mali Exit as UN Peacekeepers Plan to Move In
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France is mapping out its exit strategy for Mali as the United Nations solidifies plans to turn African forces into UN peacekeepers securing towns recaptured from Islamist militants.
Backed by Malian and African forces, French soldiers have seized the cities of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal. France plans to start withdrawing some of its 4,000 troops “in a few weeks,” Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Europe1 radio.