France poised to announce withdrawal of military forces from Mali

After months of diplomatic crisis the departure will mark an end to a fraught nine-year mission

France is expected to formally announce within days a phased withdrawal of its military forces in Mali after almost a decade, after months of diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

The departure will mark an end to a fraught nine-year mission in Mali that French governments have argued is integral to regional security as well as prevent jihadist threats in Europe.