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| Africa North |
| Chad Parliament Votes for Gradual Withdrawal of Troops from Mali |
| 2013-04-16 |
| [An Nahar] Chad's parliament voted overwhelmingly Monday for a gradual withdrawal of troops from Mali where 36 have died in a French-led campaign to oust armed Islamists from the north of the country. Lawmakers were nearly unanimous in asking government to withdraw its 2,250 troops "within a reasonable timeframe". Speaking at the session, Prime Minister Dadnadji Djimrangar said: "We paid a heavy price for this noble mission." Experienced soldiers from the regional military heavyweight Chad who are used to fighting in harsh desert terrain played a key role in helping French troops battle Islamists snuffies in northern Mali. La Belle France in January swept to the aid of Mali's ill-disciplined and poorly trained army and, with the aid of other African troops, has largely succeeded in driving Islamist snuffies from the north. However pockets of resistance remain, particularly in the Gao region. At least three Chadian soldiers died Friday in a suicide kaboom in Kidal, northeast of Gao. In addition to the 36 dead and 74 maimed, Chad spent 57 billion CFA francs (87 million euros, $114 million) for its three-month contribution to the campaign, Djimrangar said. Chadian President Idriss Deby told French journalists on Sunday: "The face-to-face war with the jihadists is over. The Chadian army has no real competence to confront an unknown. The Chadian soldiers will return to Chad; they have accomplished their mission." He noted that Chad would contribute troops to a U.N. force in Mali if asked. |
| Posted by:Fred |