French President Hollande spells out France’s African, Middle Eastern policy

France 24

French President Francois Hollande speaks during a joint press conference following a meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace on May 30, 2013 in Paris. AFP PHOTO PIERRE VERDY

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 and its sister broadcasters RFI and TV5 Monde on Friday, French President François Hollande outlined his foreign policy, with a particular focus on North Africa and the Middle East.

In Mali, where France launched its military operation “Serval” to remove al Qaeda-linked jihadists occupying the north of the country, Hollande said that African forces should play the leading role in providing long-term security, and that it was not France’s role to be “Africa’s policeman”.

“Operation Serval had one objective – to free Mali from the grip of terrorists,” he said. “This mission was accomplished … there isn't a corner of Mali under the thumb of terrorists.”

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