France's Post-Intervention Role in Mali

While France's military intervention has severely deteriorated jihadist militants' capability to establish sanctuary in northern Mali, militant activity continues throughout the Sahel region. The insecurity in vast areas of southern Libya, which originally contributed to the emergency in Mali, still provides a potential staging area or haven to several international militant organizations. Militants also continue to move freely across national borders in the Sahel, into countries with weak governments such as Libya, Mauritania, Niger and Tunisia, posing a threat throughout the region — including to several French energy and diplomatic assets.