French soldiers involved in the regional anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane patrol on March 10, 2016 in Timbamogoye.
France's Barkhane counter-terror mission comprises at least 3,500 soldiers deployed across five countries (Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso) with a mandate to combat jihadist insurgencies in the region. / AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT