Mine event in Kidal Region, Tessalit area, Mali on Wed 13th April 2016

... mines still represent a latent danger for the soldiers of the French operation Barkhane as much than for those of Minusma, the United Nations mission in Mali. These are most often PRB M3 type mines from Gaddafi's Libyan arsenal which now supplies the various terrorist and separatist movements scattered throughout the Sahel.The jihadists now seem to favor bombs buried in the sand over direct confrontation with international troops, which have dealt a heavy blow to terrorist groups. This tactic of jihadist groups is particularly painful for French troops in Mali, who have lost ten vehicles in the space of six months due to the explosion of mines or handcrafted devices. Reacting to the three deaths on Wednesday, Paris announced that the fight against terrorism in the Sahel would continue. "There is a merciless struggle going on there and we will have to continue." said the French government spokesman. The Barkhane force deployed in five countries (Mali Burkina Faso Mauritania Niger and Chad) has some 3500 soldiers engaged in the fight against jihadist groups in the Sahel."