Brexit or not, Franco-British alliance gets "stronger" in restive Sahel "With or without Brexit, we will continue": is the message being relayed by chiefs of staff from the British and French armies on a visit to the restive Sahel region, where France began 'Operation Barkhane' in 2014 to combat jihadist militants. Britain's Defence Ministry announced earlier this year that 250 troops would be sent in 2020 to support the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. Images of Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, British chief of air staff, during a visit to the French military operation in the region. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES