FILE IMAGES of the French anti-jihadist force Barkhane in Mali. President Emmanuel Macron says France will start closing its bases in northern Mali before the end of the year, part of a drawdown of French troops fighting Islamist extremists in the Sahel region. After the drawdown, France will still have "2,500 to 3,000" soldiers in the region. FILE IMAGES of the French anti-jihadist force Barkhane in Mali