EU Takes Over Lead Role From France in Sahel Islamist Fight
- Spain will lead the European military forces, Macron said
- France has faced criticism at home and abroad over involvement
Emmanuel Macron speaks during the closing press conference at the G5 Sahel summit in Nouakchott on June 30.
Photographer: Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
European forces will takeover the lead of a military intervention against Islamist insurgents in West Africa within weeks, President Emmanuel Macron said amid criticism over the former colonial power’s role in the region.
A European mission will train local troops and extend its geographical scope, Macron told journalists in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, Tuesday. He spoke after closed-door meetings with leaders of the West African countries worst-hit by Islamist violence -- Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania and Burkina Faso -- and European partners, including Germany, Italy, and Spain.