France, its European Union partners and Canada will end their anti-terror operations in Mali by June, a joint statement issued ahead of an EU-African Union summit said on Thursday.

France has a deployment of 4,300 soldiers in Africa’s Sahel region to help combat terrorism. A main focus of the mission, known as ‘Operation Barkhane,’ is Mali, where up to 2,500 French soldiers are stationed.

France is also leading Task Force Takuba, to which several European countries have contributed troops and whose remit is also to fight terrorism.

Sources close to the Élysée Palace have said France generally believes that a successful outcome in Mali is no longer likely, though they remain willing to maintain a military presence in neighbouring countries.

Tensions have recently increased between the government in Mali, which came to power in a coup and the former colonial power, France.

Several armed groups are active in the Sahel, some of whom have sworn allegiance to the terrorist groups Islamic State or al-Qaeda.

Top officials from the European Union and the African Union and leaders of their respective member states will meet in Brussels for a joint summit later on Thursday. 

(dpa/NAN)