Your account has been succesfully created.

Subscribe now

WEST AFRICA SAHEL

Trapped in Sahel logistics nightmare, French army seeks way out

Read this article in our running story

“The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado”

SAHEL

The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado

As the Sahel security crisis worsens, with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) increasingly active, the states in the region find themselves in an ever more vulnerable position. In an attempt to stem the flow of jihadist propaganda which now risks overflowing into the coastal states, a number of security operations have been launched, among them Operation Barkhane, the G5 Sahel joint force, MINUSMA, and the Coalition for the Sahel. [...]

In November, one of the French army's convoys that came to support the Barkhane force by road was attacked by locals. For the past two months, French military planners have been working on scenarios to keep its troops supplied in the Sahel without provoking any new unrest. [...] (1143 words)

Issue dated 03/01/2022 Reading time 5 minutes

French multi-role armoured vehicles VBMR Griffon patrol the streets of Gao on 4 December 2021. © Thomas Coex/AFP

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 31)

2 options offered to continue reading

e-wallet

from EUR/USD 50

Only buy articles you are interested in

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

Unlimited access to the website

See our rates

Choose the option that suits you best: Compare all of our offers!

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Defence Diplomacy

Receive free prompts for these topics

224th Flight Unit
3rd Marine Infantry Regiment
Airbus
Antonov
Avico
Bolloré
Bolloré Africa Logistics
Compagnie maritime nantaise
Covid-19
Ecolog
French Forces in Ivory Coast
Ilyushin
International Chartering Systems
Mohamed Bazoum
MSC
National Financial Prosecutor's Office
NATO
Operation Barkhane
Operations Planning and Control Centre
Philippe de Jonquières
Salis
United Nations

Bolloré's French army foreign operations' contract renewed for over €200m

After much hemming and hawing, French Bolloré Logistics has renewed its contract with the French army in Sahel. [...]

WEST AFRICA Defence Diplomacy 15/03/2022

Ukrainian Antonovs still supplying French forces in the Sahel, for now

Redeployed to reinforce NATO's eastern flank, Ukrainian operator Antonov Airlines' surviving fleet of An-124s are also backing France's military efforts in Africa. But the clock is ticking... [...]

SAHEL Defence Business 17/02/2022

French army's Thales mini-drones rack up technical setbacks

The French military's Spy'Ranger drones, which have been deployed in Mali as part of Operation Barkhane, have encountered a series of technical problems. The army has not ruled out replacing them with UAVs from other suppliers. [...]

A Spy'Ranger drone from Thales. © Thales

SAHEL Defence Diplomacy 17/02/2022

France figures out how to get its soldiers safely out of Mali

The withdrawal of French troops from Mali presents a major logistical challenge, with an increased risk of attacks by Islamic militants. The military has been examining various scenarios over the past few weeks. [...]

The Niamey base in Niger could become the nerve centre of French operations. © Frédéric Speich/La Provence/PhotoPQR/MaxPPP

Breaking newsFRANCE SAHEL 11/02/2022

Paris and EU fix date of Mali pullout

Breaking news, published on 11/02/2022 at 17:40 - On the eve of the upcoming EU-AU summit, Emmanuel Macron is expected bring together leaders from Europe and the Sahel on 16 February to discuss the future of the French and European presence in the region. [...]

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum (L) at a G5 summit on 9 July 2021. © Stéphane de Sakutin/Pool/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

FRANCE GUINEA BISSAU Infrastructures Business 10/01/2022

After missing out on Bolloré's African assets, CMA CGM is eyeing Bissau

The Saadé family's CMA CGM group has not lost hope of strengthening its position in African ports: a delegation travelled to Guinea-Bissau's port capital at the end of 2021 to look at potential locations in the country. [...]

AFRICA Infrastructures Business 21/12/2021

How MSC's Aponte family outbid CMA CGM's Saadé owners for Bolloré's African assets

The announcement, on 20 December, that Bolloré had entered exclusive negotiations with the Italian-Swiss group MSC for the sale of its African port and logistics business came as a slap in the face for CMA CGM. [...]

Bolloré Ports' container terminal in Pointe-Noire (Congo). © Bolloré Ports

WEST AFRICA Defence Business 18/02/2021

Erstwhile military ops stalwart ICS faces liquidation

International Chartering Systems (ICS) boss Philippe de Jonquières, whose firm has carried out countless airlifts for the French military, plans to shut down the company after nearly four years of judicial investigation that has failed to lead to an indictment. [...]

WEST AFRICA FRANCE Defence Politics 21/12/2020

Paris issues fresh tender for Barhkane logistics

Bolloré's competitors now have until mid-January to eat into the French giant's transportation action in West Africa after France re-issued a request for bids it had abandoned. [...]

WEST AFRICA Defence Business 26/10/2020

Barkhane, Sabre, FFCI... military services giant Ecolog struggles to win French army logistics contracts

Emirati group Ecolog was approached to challenge the Bolloré group for the contract to transport supplies to the French armed forces in the Sahel and Ivory Coast but, finally, failed to bid in time. It has nevertheless held on to its UN contract in Mali and is developing its business in South Sudan. [...]

A group of Barkhane foot hunters during an operation to combat armed terrorist groups in Burkina Faso (2019). © Philippe de Poulpiquet/PHOTOPQR/LE PARISIEN/MAXPPP

On our other sites

Intelligence Online 19/07/2022

Isolated Moscow revives industrial and academic relations with Pyongyang

Ater a break of two years caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Moscow wants to resume a series of joint industrial projects with its Asian neighbour, while staying within the tight restrictions imposed by the United Nations. [...]

Intelligence Online 28/02/2022

NATO and Russia battle it out for control of Antonov transport fleet

The Russian army's military intervention in Ukraine has exacerbated the battle being fought by Russia and the West over the Antonov aircrafts operated by rival Ukrainian and Russian leasing companies. The Russian offensive will make it more difficult for France to redeploy in the Sahel and reduce the number of lessors available to NATO. [...]

The Antonov An-225 cargo plane at an airfield in the settlement of Hostomel, on April 23, 2020. © Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Receive free prompts for these topics

224th Flight Unit
3rd Marine Infantry Regiment
Airbus
Antonov
Avico
Bolloré
Bolloré Africa Logistics
Compagnie maritime nantaise
Covid-19
Ecolog
French Forces in Ivory Coast
Ilyushin
International Chartering Systems
Mohamed Bazoum
MSC
National Financial Prosecutor's Office
NATO
Operation Barkhane
Operations Planning and Control Centre
Philippe de Jonquières
Salis
United Nations

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!

Zelensky's Sudan connection - how Ukraine armed itself in Khartoum

Inside Sudan's labyrinthine military-industrial complex

Trapped in Sahel logistics nightmare, French army seeks way out