On 15 July 2014, French President François Hollande launched Operation Barkhane; a counter-terrorism force intended to hunt down terrorist groups in Sahel countries and prevent them from re-forming.
This new mission is the continuation of Operation Serval, which was launched on 11 January 2013 in Mali and had the following three objectives: to stop terrorist groups' offensive; to ensure security in Bamako to protect French nationals; and to preserve Mali's territorial integrity. According to Defence Minister Jean-Yves le Drian, France has fulfilled its mission, but has to prevent 'the emergence in another regional state of a threat similar to that which prompted the 2013 intervention.'
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