Some 500 European Union (EU) occupational troops are due in the Malian capital of Bamako to back up France in its war in the West African country.
According to reports, the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) for Mali will arrive in Bamako later on Friday and military sessions will be held northeast of the city.
This comes after the EU foreign ministers agreed to back up France in its war in Mali by launching a USD 16.33-million military operation to purportedly train and restructure the West African country’s army.
Foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc appointed French Brigadier General Francois Lecointre as commander of the mission, which is slated to last for 15 months.
France launched its war on Mali on January 11 under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters in the country. The war has left thousands of Malians homeless.
On February 1, Amnesty International condemned “serious human rights breaches” including the killing of children in the French war in Mali.
