In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 and its sister broadcasters RFI and TV5 Monde on Friday, French President François Hollande outlined his foreign policy, with a particular focus on North Africa and the Middle East, reports FRANCE 24.
In Mali, where France launched its military operation “Serval” to remove al Qaeda-linked jihadists occupying the north of the country, Hollande said that African forces should play the leading role in providing long-term security, and that it was not France’s role to be “Africa’s policeman”.
“Operation Serval had one objective – to free Mali from the grip of terrorists,” he said. “This mission was accomplished … there isn't a corner of Mali under the thumb of terrorists.”
Hollande said he was confident that elections in Mali – a key requirement before French troops withdraw from the country - could and would go ahead in July, despite the still shaky security situation.
Admitting that terrorism had not been fully eradicated in the region, the French leader said his country’s future role would be to “co-ordinate our mission, following the requests of neighbouring countries.”
Hollande insisted that the work of fighting the terrorist threat in Africa needed to be led by African armies, although he admitted that these were poorly trained and equipped for the task.
In this respect, Hollande said that France and other European countries had a responsibility to help them prepare.
Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.