# European Task Force Takuba to deploy to Sahel

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/04/european-task-force-takuba-to-deploy-to-sahel/
- Published: 2020-04-05T20:12:02+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam

Task Force Takuba is geared towards tackling terrorism and Armed bandits. As the
humanitarian situation is progressively deteriorating in the Sahel, Large numbers
of locals have been forced to flee their homes and to relocate due to intimidation
by terrorists. Attacks from organized armed groups conducting terrorist activities
have already claimed the lives of many civilians, as well as national and international
troops. This situation claims a high cost in human suffering. It also shed lights
on the need to uphold the respect for human rights and international humanitarian
law in the region.

Thus, several European countries including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands,
and Portugal will deploy troops to support a new French-led special forces mission
in the Sahel region called **_Task Force Takuba._**

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## Task Force Takuba

_Takuba_, which means “sabre” in Tuareg, is expected “to have an initial operational
capability (IOC) by the summer of 2020 and expected to become operational (FOC) 
by early 2021” says the French Ministry of Armed Forces announced after an audio
conference on Friday, 27 March with defence ministers.

> “The Takuba Task Force will be able, by its structure, to act quickly and adapt
> to the evolution of the threat posed by terrorist groups. It will play a key role
> in the rapid empowerment of local armed forces.”

Structurally, Taskforce Takuba will mainly consist of European special forces backed
by the necessary support assets. It will be under the command of the French [ongoing Operation ‘Barkhane’ regional counter-insurgency mission](https://www.military.africa/2020/04/european-task-force-takuba-to-deploy-to-sahel/military.africa/2018/06/operation-barkhane-french-war-in-africas-sahel?v=bf7410a9ee72),
but will have a high level of autonomy. It will assist and complement efforts of
the **G5 Sahel Joint Force** that is made up of battalions from Burkina Faso, Chad,
Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.

Takuba will operate in the Liptako region, an area between Burkina Faso, Niger and
Mali, a known stronghold for fighters linked to ISIL (ISIS). According to a [Press statement](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.government.se/495ef1/globalassets/government/dokument/forsvarsdepartementet/2020/political-statement-task-force-takuba.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi3g9Xh_dHoAhXT3oUKHU_KCxwQFjACegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw01AE_XuWrY2GFzrDzffUSF)
document.

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“Takuba will therefore be part of the counter-terrorism pillar of the ‘Coalition
for the Sahel’, the broader coordinating framework recently announced in Pau,” it
said, referring to the France-G5 Sahel summit held in the southern French city in
January.

## Task Force Takuba to advise and assist

It will advise, assist and accompany Malian Armed Forces, in coordination with G5
Sahel partners, the UN mission (MINUSMA) and EU missions (EUTM Mali, EUCAP Mali 
and EUCAP Niger).

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