Maghreb Edition

Sahel: French soldiers active in the Sahel test positive for Covid-19F

Posted On 3 April 2020

Number of times this article was read : 314

Paris, April 2, 2020 – Four French soldiers deployed in the Sahel region of western Africa in France’s anti-jihadist Barkhane force have tested positive for coronavirus, the army said on Thursday. The infections are the first confirmed by the French army among soldiers serving in its foreign operations.

Colonel Frederic Barbry, the spokesman for the French armed forces chief of staff, told AFP one of the soldiers was being treated in his country of deployment, while the other three have been repatriated. The group had arrived in the area several weeks ago and were not showing symptoms, he said. People they had been in contact with were being placed into quarantine but military operations were continuing as normal, said Barbry.

The 5,100 strong-Barkhane force fights jihadists in cooperation with the Sahel countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Chad. France last week said it will withdraw its contingent of troops from Iraq, mostly trainers to local armed forces, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

By AFP
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Morocco: Employment Gains Concentrate in Urban Centers as Rural Areas Fall Behind✓

Morocco’s labor market showed strong job creation in 2025, but the gains were overwhelmingly concentrated in urban areas. While cities absorbed nearly all new employment, rural regions continued to lose jobs, exposing a widening divide that leaves young people, women, and rural workers increasingly disconnected from the recovery.

Tunisia Appeals Court Extends Rached Ghannouchi’s Prison Term by 20 Years$

Tunisia Appeals Court Extends Rached Ghannouchi’s Prison Term by 20 Years$

Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda party, has had his prison sentence increased to 20 years in a case known as “Conspiracy 2,” pushing his cumulative jail time from multiple convictions to more than four decades. His defense team says he will not seek a final appeal, denouncing the charges as politically driven and warning that the ruling deepens Tunisia’s crackdown on organized opposition.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.