Deputies and members of the government observed a minute of silence in the National Assembly on Tuesday, January 25, in tribute to the French soldier killed during a mortar attack on Saturday against the Gao camp, in northern Mali.
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“It is with great emotion that we learned of the death of Brigadier Alexandre Martin“, of the 54th artillery regiment of Hyères, declared from the perch Richard Ferrand (LREM), before the questions to the government. “On behalf of the national representation“, he saluted the memory of this 24-year-old soldier, the 53rd soldier killed in combat in the Sahel since 2013 and the first in 2022. Members of the government, deputies and staff of the Assembly gathered standing for a minute of silence.
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Nine other French soldiers were lightly injured in the attack, which came as dire relations between the ruling junta in Bamako and Paris raise the question of maintaining a French and European presence in Mali. Emmanuel Macron, however, confirmed “France’s determination to continue the fight against terrorism in the region, alongside its partners“.