Mark Galeotti Mark Galeotti

Has Putin outplayed Macron in Africa?

As French forces leave, Russian mercenaries are arriving

(Getty)

While the world is focused on Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron has withdrawn all French forces from Mali. Last weekend, thousands of soldiers were flown out of the former French colony after nine years of fighting Islamist insurgents in the Sahel. Malian protesters bid the French soldiers farewell by shouting ‘Shit to France’ at the departing planes.

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