More than a year after the military intervention by French in Mali, many issues related to the security environment of the entire region remain open. Although the terrorist groups operating in the Sahel have suffered some heavy defeats, they maintain a high ability to strike Western targets and continue to retreat in areas with poor control from the local governments - such as the south-west of Libya - and to strengthen the networks of their organizations.In this scenario, the regional players, with the exception of Algeria, demonstrate enormous difficulties in the planning and management of counter-terrorism activities, thus strengthening the role of France in the area. In this sense, France has signed agreements with Niger and Chad in December aimed at establishing a legal basis that would allow it to operate in counter-terrorism activities in their territories. Similarly, on January 20 in Paris was then formalized an agreement with Mali.
Mali
In the north, the country remains ravaged by political and social violence, in the meantime, the decision by France to reduce the number of troops present from 4,200 units to 1,600 by the end of February, up to 1,000 by mid-2014, could undermine the process of resolution of the current crisis. The mission of the United Nations is facing a many difficulties in the supply and deployment of troops in the country, then it is likely that in the time needed to MINUSMA to replace the French forces, some Islamist groups will take advantage of a temporary shortage of resistance from the international forces. These terrorist organizations maintain several networks active in northern Mali and, as confirmed by some intelligence reports, have established sanctuaries in the south-west of Libya, from where they plan terrorist activities in the region.
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