The French President Francois Hollande has said his country’s forces are engaged in the final phase of fighting against Islamist Militants in Northern Mali.

France has asked the United Nations to take over the rest of the combat mission as its wants to withdraw its forces as soon as possible from Mali.

President Hollande admitted that there had been heavy fighting in the Ifoghas Mountains, where members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) were thought to be hiding.

“This is the final phase of the process since it is in that massif [the Ifoghas Mountains] that AQIM forces have probably regrouped,” he said.

“Our Chadian friends launched an attack yesterday which was very harsh with significant loss of life, I want to praise what the Chadians are doing,” President Hollande added.

Over the weekend, thirteen Chadian soldiers and some 65 militants were killed in clashes on Friday, according to the Chadian army which means the fight seems not to be ending now.

This development coupled with France’s intention to withdraw from Mali leaves a big question about France’s intervention in the combat operation and the future of Mali stability.

Local reporters reported that there are still intense fighting in the northern desert and some northern major cities between Islamist Fighters and the joint forces.

Meanwhile, The United States said it has sent Predator drones to Niger to fly a surveillance mission to be able to capture Militants hide-out in Northern Mali.

The unarmed drones would be used to overfly the zone of combat in Mali and provide information about deployments, US officials disclosed.

France has deployed 4,000 troops since 11 January to help the Malian government eject Islamist Fighters who seized control of the north of the country last year.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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