French president pledges full support for Mali after deadly resort attack

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to the leader of Mali after Sunday’s attack on a luxury resort in the country, and pledged France’s full support for the country, Macron’s office said on Monday.

“During their exchange, he conveyed France’s full support to Mali’s president during this ordeal,” said Macron’s office.

Gunmen on Sunday attacked a luxury resort popular with Western expatriates just outside Mali’s capital, Bamako, killing two people in what the security minister called a terrorist attack, while 36 guests were rescued.

Macron’s first visit to Africa was to Mali where he met with troops battling insurgency under the Operation Barkhane banner. Aside, Mali, the 3,000-strong force is fighting insurgents in the entire Sahel region comprising Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mauritania.

For four years insurgents have targeted and controlled some areas of northern Mali. 19 French soldiers have been reported to have been killed since the operation started in 2013.

Mali has been labeled as the deadliest war front for UN peacekeepers after over 20 of them were killed last year.

REUTERS