French President Emmanuel Macron has threatened that the country would withdraw troops from Mali if political turmoil there leads to greater Islamist radicalization. It follows the second coup in nine months in the West African nation, as per BBC reports.

Macron told to media that he had told regional leaders that France would not support countries where there was no democratic legitimacy or transition and that France had no intention of keeping its troops in Africa forever. He warned of the risk of Mali "moving towards" greater Islamist influence. France has 5,100 troops in the Sahel region which has been a front line in the war against Islamist militancy.

The French President has for some time been muttering about reducing, or withdrawing, the more than 5,000 French troops in the vast and troubled Sahel. He is frustrated about a lack of commitment from most other European countries to fight the multiple militant Islamist groups in the region. They are considered a threat to Europe, both in terms of possible jihadist attacks on the continent and illegal migration.

Macron has been demanding an end to military rule in both. In Mali, he has threatened to withdraw French troops if the political chaos and uncertainty leads to an increase in radical Islam. But he is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Australian govt demanded 5,000 litres of Bromadiolone poison from India amid mouse crisis

Joe Biden unveils USD 6 trillion budget for FY22 with a spotlight on social spending, taxes on Biz

India Army deployed K-9 vajra guns on India-China border in Ladakh