Military to provide air transport for French counter-terror mission in Africa

OTTAWA – The Canadian military is finalizing plans to send transport aircraft to support French counter-terrorism operations in northern Africa.

Defence officials say the planes would likely be used to transport French troops and equipment into the Sahel region, which includes Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Mali.

READ MORE: Harjit Sajjan: spread of terrorism in Africa on Canada’s peacekeeping radar

About 3,500 heavily armed French troops have been hunting al Qaida-linked fighters in those countries since August 2014.

WATCH: How does Canada plan to keep peacekeepers out of ‘complex’ entanglements in Africa? 

1:17 How does Canada plan to keep peacekeepers out of ‘complex’ entanglements in Africa?

Canadian military aircraft have previously flown French armoured vehicles, medical supplies and ammunition into the region, including on three separate occasions last year.

READ MORE: Harjit Sajjan says Canada to send military to Africa for a ‘long duration’

But the plan to restart such flights comes as the Liberal government considers where in Africa to send up to 600 Canadian peacekeepers.

Mali, where many of the French troops are located, is considered one of front-runners.