In the Sahel, fear of the return of child soldiers

Operation Barkhane's latest offensive against terrorist groups in the Sahel has borne fruit, but a long-term threat looms. The Islamic State in the Grand Sahara, designated as the main enemy since January, suffered severe losses, according to the French general staff. "Its human and material capacities have been greatly reduced," welcomed General Facon, Barkhane force commander, on Thursday, during an exchange with the press. But "the enemy has hardened. He no longer hesitates to resort to child soldiers. The latter are brainwashed and trained in the handling of weapons ” , he warned.

Read also: From Pau to Nouakchott, the start of the "Barkhane" operation against the jihadists

"This abject exploitation puts us in difficulty," agreed General Facon. Child soldiers are nothing new. In 2013 already, al-Qaida was pushing young recruits on the Sahelian terrain. Their presence in the terrorist ranks, intended to divert the vigilance of the soldiers or to serve as a human shield, constitutes a challenge for the Western armies. Each

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