(Ecofin Agency) - Sweden will deploy 150 new soldiers to Mali as part of the fight against terrorism, the Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde (pictured) announced today. The African country will also benefit from helicopters to help with the transport of troops.

The new soldiers are to be deployed as part of Task Force Takuba, a body that will bring together special forces’ units from several European countries to strengthen the fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel.

“This will make it easier to carry out development activities in Mali […] This decision will also enable us to contribute to the fight against international terrorism and ultimately make Sweden safer and more secure,” the minister said.

The new announcement comes in response to the call by the French government and the G5 Sahel countries for greater mobilization of the international community to eradicate jihadist violence in the Sahel. In recent years, the region has seen an upsurge in attacks targeting civilians and military personnel, despite the deployment of the French Barkhane force.

As a reminder, more than 200 Swedish soldiers are already deployed in multinational missions in Mali.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou