A soldier from the 54th artillery regiment of Hyères (Var) was killed on Saturday January 22, 2022 in the afternoon towards Gao in Mali, the Elysée announced this Sunday morning. Alexandre Martin, 24 years old and born in Rouen, was killed in “a mortar attack on a military camp during Operation Barkhane“, indicates a press release from the Elysée.
Emmanuel Macron greets the brigadier and shares his “very strong emotion”. The president of the Republic “salute with respect the memory of this soldier, who died for France in the accomplishment of his mission” and “associates himself with the pain of his family, his relatives and his brothers in arms. He assures them of the recognition and solidarity of the Nation”the statement also said. “The President of the Republic salutes the courage of the soldiers engaged in the Sahel and expresses his total confidence in them. He confirms France’s determination to continue the fight against terrorism in the region, alongside its partners.”
The mayor of Hyères, Jean-Pierre Giranregret that a “Hyères child has paid with his life. The 54th is completely integrated into local life, present at all patriotic events. Whenever the city has needed them, for floods for example, they have always responded present The city of Hyères is in mourning and this tragedy makes us reflect on the importance and the merits of the French intervention in Mali.”
Nine other soldiers injured
The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces sends his thoughts on Sunday to “his family, friends and brothers in arms“. In a press releaseit is specified that the “January 22 around 5 p.m.“, Brigadier Alexandre Martin”was seriously injured” and “immediately taken care of by the Gao medical detachment but succumbed to his injuries. Nine other soldiers were slightly injured“. The General Staff of the Armed Forces also specifies that a “helicopter patrol was engaged to intercept and neutralize the terrorists“.
The soldier who died on Saturday afternoon is the 53rd French soldier killed in combat in the Sahel since 2013. His death comes as four French soldiers were injured in Burkina Faso on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded as their vehicle passed. In 2021, there were three combat deaths and one accidental death among French soldiers deployed in the Sahel.
The anti-jihadist force Barkhane, present since 2014 in Mali and whose mission is extended to the Sahel, is at the heart of major bilateral political issues, against the backdrop of accusations of recourse by Mali to the services of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, as well as the reorganization of the French military presence in the country. Faced with the open crisis with the Malian junta, France must “find the way“to pursue the objective of the anti-jihadist fight in West Africa, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly said on Thursday.
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