DecryptionsAfter nine years of fighting jihadism in the Sahel, the head of state announced, Thursday, February 17, the withdrawal of France from Mali. Back on the gears that led to a situation considered today by many observers as the end of a strategic cycle.
There are more painful defeats than others, especially when it comes to examining the causes of a long-term failure. The history of France’s nine years of engagement in Mali within the framework of the “Serval” operations from January 2013, then “Barkhane” from August 2014, still remains to be written. But if there is already a point of convergence, listening to actors in the field and active or retired soldiers, that The world was able to question is that the announcement of the French withdrawal, Thursday, February 17, by the Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, is above all the end of a cycle, the death of a political, diplomatic and military utopia .
The years ended up making it forget, but, originally, “Barkhane” was born of a victory. That of “Serval”, a lightning success, almost perfect, as we learn on the benches of the school of war. We are then in January 2013. A virulent jihadist movement, grafted on a Tuareg rebellion – which it ends up supplanting – began to venture out of northern Mali, where it was hoped that it would remain confined. When the French services realize that he has approached the city of Mopti, on an axis which opens the gates of Bamako straight to him, the decision is made to hinder him.
It is François Hollande, then head of state (2012-2017), who bears the responsibility. After dragging his feet, looking by all means for allies so as not to find himself alone in this Malian desert, he rallied to the plans submitted to him. The observation at the time is as follows. One: we must put an end to the costly industry of hostages – twelve Westerners, including several French, are then in the hands of jihadist groups. Two: this business relies on a relatively localized rear base, the Adrar des Ifoghas, where attacks threatening the entire sub-region are being prepared: “In two months, with 2,000 men and 200 million euros, it was estimated that the clean-up was possible”says a former officer.
A form of euphoria
However, with “Serval”, “operational utopia”, in the words of this same officer, becomes reality. Some 6,000 French soldiers are mobilized. After the arrest of the jihadist column on January 11, the resumption of Gao airport fifteen days later and the ascent to Kidal, from a military point of view, the terrorist question in the north appears, at the beginning of April 2013 , as a temporarily managed affair. Logistic treasures were deployed to supply water over immense distances to the engaged soldiers who needed 10 to 12 liters each per day. More than 600 jihadists were killed, a hundred taken prisoner. In short, a battle to keep in the annals.
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