PARIS
French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday affirmed that French troops in Mali would begin to withdraw after March.
French government speaker Najat Vallaud-Belkacem stated that the developments in Mali were discussed in the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
"The president affirmed the ministers that French troops would begin to withdraw from Mali after March," said Vallaud-Belkacem.
Stating that the French troops never had the intention of staying in Mali for a long time, the government speaker said, "Malian and African soldiers will protect the territorial integrity of Mali."
Currently, there are approximately four thousand French soldiers in Mali.
