After eight years of massive engagement and 50 deaths in combat, the French presence in the Sahel is about to change form. The European task force Takuba is expected to carry out most counter-terrorist missions in the region in the near future.
The European Commission has adopted a new report on EU border regions with analysis and recommendations on how to strengthen the resilience of border regions also in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
The United States has expressed concern over reports of fighting in Ethiopia's northern province of Tigray. Addis Ababa has confirmed its readiness to respond to "rebel attacks" as Tigray fighters pushed back after 8 months of fighting in which the Ethiopian government declared its victory.
Lebanon's prime minister-designate, Saad Hariri, has excused himself from forming a government after a nine-month deadlock. The international community, including the United Nations, expressed its disappointment as the country plunges deeper into crisis.