[AlAhram] La Belle France is preparing to reduce its military presence here in West Africa's Sahel region... North Africa's answer to the Pak tribal areas...
, the vast area south of the Sahara Desert where holy warrior groups are fighting for control
During a grueling, weeks-long mission in northern Mali, French soldiers were confronted by a familiar threat: Extremists trying to impose the same strict Islamic rule that preceded La Belle France's military intervention here more than eight years ago.