Radicalisation

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.

Over the last years, France has faced criticism for its perceived stance against Islam. In this commentary for commonspace.eu, Camille Victor suggests that this stems from a misunderstanding of France's unique interpretation of secularism, arguing that the preservation of the French secular model requires finding ways to appease rising tensions whilst simultaneously acting against very real threats to the country's core republican values.

The president of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, has called on his compatriots for "restraint", asking them "not to take actions that jeopardise our unity and our common future" amidst protests over increasing extremist violence in the country.