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WORLD NEWS Monday 23 deceMber 2019

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Macron vows to keep fighting

extremism in West Africa

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) the currency was consid- ter prepared for the fight
— France's President Em- ered by some, especially against terrorism."
manuel Macron has vowed the African youth, as a On Sunday, Macron will
to boost the fight against Is- post-colonial heritage. pay tribute in Bouake to
lamic extremism in West Af- Earlier that day, Macron the victims of a 2004 bomb-
rica as French troops killed announced that a French ing by the Ivorian air force
33 Islamic extremists in cen- military operation killed during the civil war in the
tral Mali. 33 Islamic extremists in the country, which killed nine
Saturday was Macron's Mopti region of central Mali French soldiers and an French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by President
second day of his three- on Saturday morning. American civilian who had Alassane Ouattara upon arrival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Friday
day trip to Ivory Coast He tweeted he was "proud sought shelter at the French Dec. 20, 2019.
and Niger that has been of our soldiers who protect army base.q Associated Press
dominated by the grow- us." Two Malian gendarmes
ing threat posed by jihadist also were rescued in the
groups. operation, he said.
"We must remain deter- France has about 4,500 mil-
mined and united to face itary personnel in West and
that threat," Macron said in Central Africa, much of
a news conference in Abi- which was ruled by France
djan. "We will continue the during the colonial era. The
fight." French led a military opera-
By Macron's side, Ivorian tion in 2013 to dislodge Is-
President Alassane Ouat- lamic extremists from pow-
tara in Abidjan announced er in several major towns
a "historic" reform of the across Mali's north.
French-backed currency In the ensuing years, the
CFA Franc, established in militants have regrouped
1945 and used by eight and pushed further into
states in West and Central central Mali, where Satur-
Africa. day morning's operation
The currency's name will was carried out.
become the "eco" next On Friday evening, Macron
year and all French offi- met with French military
cials will withdraw from its personnel stationed in Ivory
decision-making bodies, Coast, which shares a long
Ouattara said. In addition, border with volatile Mali
the obligation for member and Burkina Faso. The visit
states to keep half of their included commandos who
foreign reserves in France were involved in the opera-
will end. The currency will tion in Mali last month dur-
remain pegged to the ing which 13 soldiers died in
euro, which guarantees its a helicopter collision.
stability, Ouattara stressed. Earlier Saturday, Macron
Macron, who turned 42 on and Ouattara highlighted
Saturday, welcomed the a new training effort being
reform and praised the fi- launched. The International
nancial and economic em- Academy to Fight Terrorism
powerment of the region. will be in charge of "training
"I don't belong to a genera- in Ivory Coast some spe-
tion that has known colo- cialized forces from across
nialism ... so let's break the Africa," Macron said. "Then
ties!" he said, adding that we will collectively be bet-