In Mali, Hollande says the fight is not over.
"Since January 11th we have already done a great deal of work, but it is not completely finished yet. It will take a few more weeks," said the French president. "We are not suited to stay. Our African friends will be able to do the work that until now was ours," he added.
From the Lusa News Agency
Brasilia - French President François Hollande said today (2) that fighting has not ended in northern Mali, despite the recapture of the cities of Timbuktu and Gao, which until the beginning of this week were occupied by Islamist radicals.
Hollande congratulated the French and Malian troops for their work and expressed his wish that the African Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) would take France's place and assume control of the military operation.
The president arrived in Mali today, his first visit to the country since the start of the French military operation on January 11th, to support the Malian army in the fight against Islamist armed groups that had controlled three northern provinces since June.
"Since January 11th we have already done a great deal of work, but it is not completely finished yet. It will take a few more weeks," said the French president. "We are not suited to stay. Our African friends will be able to do the work that until now was ours," he added.
The President of Mali, Dionkunda Traoré, thanked the French soldiers for their "effectiveness" and "professionalism," which allowed them to liberate the population of the north of the country after "months and months under barbarity and obscurantism."
Mali has been experiencing a deep crisis since March 22, when a coup d'état perpetrated by members of the Malian army ousted the elected president, Amadou Toumani Touré.