France’s defense minister said Monday that her government will reconsider its military strategy in the Sahel region and very likely reduce military deployment as part of Operation Barkhane after significant military successes in 2020.

Minister Parly told daily Le Parisien in an interview that a decision on reinforcement of 600 soldiers which brought the strength of Barkhane forces to 5,100 troops last year will be taken in the coming weeks.

According to her, the decision will be taken at the next joint summit of France and the G5 Sahel countries in February in N'djamena, the capital of Chad, by President Emmanuel Macron and the head of the armies.

Patrick Sallia reports.